Janesville, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Janesville, Coles County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Janesville?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 118 days in the Coles forecast zone and Coles County — the most common reported hazard around Janesville, mostly in June and May. Next come flash flooding (43 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (29 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 118 | Jun 2026 | Jan 29, 2013 · $250,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 43 | Jun 2026 | Jun 1, 1999 · $3.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 29 | Jan 2026 | Mar 11, 2000 · 1 death |
| High winds | 19 | Mar 2026 | Sep 14, 2008 · $20,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 13 | Aug 2023 | — |
| Flooding | 13 | Jun 2026 | Jun 4, 2008 · 1 death · $250,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 8 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Jun 2019 | Jun 10, 2018 · $100,000 damage |
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 Coles forecast zone and Coles County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Janesville get?
A normal year brings about 19 inches of snow to Janesville, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Charleston weather station 8.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (8.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.8 | 3.0 | 8.1 | 5.5 | 1.3 | 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 Janesville?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KILX (Lincoln, IL), about 79 miles northwest. 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 Janesville | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 79 mi northwest | 6,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KVWX Evansville, IN | 82 mi south-southeast | 7,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KIND Indianapolis, IN | 107 mi east-northeast | 10,700 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 Janesville
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 95 tornadoes within 25 miles of Janesville, 18 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F3 on August 21, 1977, which passed about 7 miles south-southwest of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on May 20, 2025, which touched down about 23 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 170 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 14 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on May 6, 1971.
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 Janesville'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.
Janesville radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Janesville, IL?
KILX (Lincoln, IL), about 79 miles northwest. KVWX (Evansville, IN) is 82 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Janesville?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Janesville the lowest scan from KILX is about 6,800 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Janesville 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 Janesville, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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