Hillcrest, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Hillcrest, Ogle County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Hillcrest?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 117 days in the Ogle forecast zone and Ogle County — the most common reported hazard around Hillcrest, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (40 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (27 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 117 | Jun 2026 | Aug 4, 2008 · $300,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 40 | Mar 2026 | Dec 11, 2010 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 27 | Jan 2026 | Jan 4, 2009 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 22 | Jul 2025 | Jul 24, 2010 · $268,000 damage |
| Flooding | 19 | Apr 2023 | — |
| High winds | 13 | Mar 2026 | Oct 26, 2010 · $50,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 9 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Feb 2023 | — |
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 Ogle forecast zone and Ogle County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Hillcrest get?
A normal year brings about 28 inches of snow to Hillcrest, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Steward 3S weather station 11 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (8.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 1.5 | 6.9 | 8.6 | 8.8 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 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 Hillcrest?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 56 miles east-southeast. 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 Hillcrest | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 56 mi east-southeast | 4,200 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 74 mi north-northeast | 6,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 82 mi west-southwest | 7,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
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 Hillcrest
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 94 tornadoes within 25 miles of Hillcrest, 10 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and August. The strongest was an F4 on April 21, 1967, which passed about 19 miles north-northeast of town and caused 24 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on June 3, 2025, which touched down about 22 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 269 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 25 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on April 7, 2020.
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 Hillcrest'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.
Hillcrest radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Hillcrest, IL?
KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 56 miles east-southeast. KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI) is 74 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Hillcrest?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Hillcrest the lowest scan from KLOT is about 4,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Hillcrest 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 Hillcrest, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Malta, IL radar 10 mi
- Davis Junction, IL radar 10 mi
- Stillman Valley, IL radar 11 mi
- Kirkland, IL radar 14 mi
- Oregon, IL radar 14 mi
- Byron, IL radar 15 mi
- DeKalb, IL radar 16 mi
- Kingston, IL radar 18 mi
- Cherry Valley, IL radar 19 mi