Kankakee, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Kankakee, Kankakee County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Kankakee?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 129 days in the Kankakee forecast zone and Kankakee County — the most common reported hazard around Kankakee, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (38 days) and flooding (30 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 129 | Jun 2026 | Aug 23, 2007 · $500,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 38 | Nov 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 30 | Dec 2025 | Feb 20, 2018 · $1.1 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 20 | Jun 2020 | May 24, 2006 · $125,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 17 | Jan 2026 | Dec 28, 2009 · 1 death |
| High winds | 13 | Nov 2022 | Oct 26, 2010 · $50,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 9 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 7 | Oct 2013 | Jul 16, 2009 · $500,000 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 Kankakee forecast zone and Kankakee County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Kankakee get?
A normal year brings about 21 inches of snow to Kankakee, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Kankakee Metro Wastewater weather station 2.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (8.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.6 | 5.3 | 8.1 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 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 Kankakee?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 37 miles north-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 Kankakee | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 37 mi north-northwest | 2,400 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 101 mi southwest | 9,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KIWX Fort Wayne, IN | 114 mi east | 11,700 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 Kankakee
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 137 tornadoes within 25 miles of Kankakee, 26 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and April. The strongest was an F4 on April 17, 1963, which passed about 4 miles north of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on December 28, 2025, which touched down about 14 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 171 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 16 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 6.00-inch hail on April 23, 1961.
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 Kankakee'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.
Kankakee radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Kankakee, IL?
KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 37 miles north-northwest. KILX (Lincoln, IL) is 101 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Kankakee?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Kankakee the lowest scan from KLOT is about 2,400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Kankakee 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 Kankakee, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Bradley, IL radar 4 mi
- Bourbonnais, IL radar 6 mi
- Limestone, IL radar 6 mi
- Chebanse, IL radar 7 mi
- St. Anne, IL radar 9 mi
- Manteno, IL radar 10 mi
- Momence, IL radar 11 mi
- Clifton, IL radar 12 mi
- Herscher, IL radar 13 mi
- Grant Park, IL radar 15 mi