Gibson City, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Gibson City, Ford County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Gibson City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 72 days in the Ford forecast zone and Ford County — the most common reported hazard around Gibson City, mostly in June and May. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (30 days) and flooding (19 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 72 | Jun 2026 | Jun 21, 2010 · $750,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 30 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 19 | Apr 2026 | Jan 8, 2008 · $500,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 17 | Aug 2023 | Aug 12, 2021 · $12 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 16 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 15 | May 2025 | Mar 4, 2025 · $1,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 9 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 2 | Feb 2011 | — |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1996–2026 (the latest year is partial). A "day" is a date with at least one report in the Ford forecast zone and Ford County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Gibson City get?
A normal year brings about 18 inches of snow to Gibson City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Gibson City weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually January (6.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 1.1 | 4.6 | 6.7 | 4.1 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Gibson City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KILX (Lincoln, IL), about 55 miles west-southwest. Radar beams climb as they travel, so the height of the lowest scan over town decides how low in a storm the radar can see.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over Gibson City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 55 mi west-southwest | 4,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 80 mi north | 6,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KIND Indianapolis, IN | 123 mi east-southeast | 13,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
Beam height is the center of the 0.5° scan above the radar, with standard refraction. Mountains near a radar can block it further.
Tornado & hail history near Gibson City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 152 tornadoes within 25 miles of Gibson City, 21 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F3 on April 9, 1953, which passed about 22 miles south-southeast of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on December 28, 2025, which touched down about 5 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 161 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 11 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on April 9, 2015.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center — tornadoes 1950–2025, hail 1955–2025. Distances are to each tornado's track; ratings before February 2007 use the original Fujita scale.
On TALON you get Gibson City's live radar loop, rain/snow/ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks with arrival times and NWS warnings free; close-up radar and rotation detection are part of TALON Pro.
Gibson City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Gibson City, IL?
KILX (Lincoln, IL), about 55 miles west-southwest. KLOT (Chicago, IL) is 80 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Gibson City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Gibson City the lowest scan from KILX is about 4,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Gibson City free?
Yes — the US radar loop, rain/snow/ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and NWS warnings are free in any browser. Close-up radar, rotation detection and longer forecasts are part of TALON Pro.
Should I rely on radar for my safety?
No app replaces official warnings. When the National Weather Service issues a warning for Gibson City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Paxton, IL radar 15 mi
- Rantoul, IL radar 16 mi
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- Thomasboro, IL radar 18 mi
- Mahomet, IL radar 19 mi
- Forrest, IL radar 20 mi
- Farmer City, IL radar 20 mi
- Fairbury, IL radar 21 mi
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