La Fayette, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for La Fayette, Stark County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits La Fayette?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 53 days in the Stark forecast zone and Stark County — the most common reported hazard around La Fayette, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (42 days) and flash flooding (16 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 53 | Jun 2026 | Jun 30, 2014 · $203,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 42 | Nov 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 16 | Jun 2022 | Jun 24, 2013 · $9.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 14 | Aug 2024 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 11 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 10 | Jan 2021 | Dec 28, 2015 · $150,000 damage |
| High winds | 8 | Nov 2019 | — |
| Blizzards | 5 | Mar 2026 | Feb 1, 2011 · $80,000 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 Stark forecast zone and Stark County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does La Fayette get?
A normal year brings about 31 inches of snow to La Fayette, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Kewanee 1 E weather station 10 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (8.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 1.4 | 7.5 | 8.7 | 8.5 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 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 La Fayette?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 47 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 La Fayette | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 47 mi northwest | 3,300 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 74 mi south-southeast | 6,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 104 mi east-northeast | 10,200 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 La Fayette
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 127 tornadoes within 25 miles of La Fayette, 26 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F4 on June 29, 1976, which passed about 24 miles south-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 13, 2025, which touched down about 4 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 191 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 11 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 9, 1995.
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 La Fayette'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.
La Fayette radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to La Fayette, IL?
KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 47 miles northwest. KILX (Lincoln, IL) is 74 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in La Fayette?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over La Fayette the lowest scan from KDVN is about 3,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for La Fayette 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 La Fayette, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Galva, IL radar 5 mi
- Toulon, IL radar 6 mi
- Kewanee, IL radar 9 mi
- Wyoming, IL radar 11 mi
- Princeville, IL radar 17 mi
- Cambridge, IL radar 17 mi
- Knoxville, IL radar 21 mi
- Elmwood, IL radar 23 mi
- Galesburg, IL radar 24 mi
- Dunlap, IL radar 24 mi