Lake Carroll, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lake Carroll, Carroll County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lake Carroll?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 95 days in the Carroll forecast zone and Carroll County — the most common reported hazard around Lake Carroll, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (82 days) and flash flooding (25 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 95 | Apr 2026 | Jun 23, 1996 · $1.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 82 | Nov 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 25 | Apr 2026 | Jul 24, 2010 · $10 million damage |
| Flooding | 18 | Jul 2024 | Apr 18, 2011 · $250,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 17 | Jan 2019 | — |
| High winds | 12 | Feb 2019 | May 4, 2003 · $1.0 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 8 | Feb 2023 | — |
| Blizzards | 5 | Mar 2026 | — |
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 Carroll forecast zone and Carroll County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Lake Carroll get?
A normal year brings about 33 inches of snow to Lake Carroll, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Mt Carroll weather station 7.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (10.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | 1.7 | 8.8 | 10.2 | 7.9 | 3.6 | 0.8 | 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 Lake Carroll?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 53 miles 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 Lake Carroll | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 53 mi southwest | 3,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 87 mi northeast | 7,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 100 mi east-southeast | 9,500 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 Lake Carroll
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 72 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lake Carroll, 10 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and April. The strongest was an F3 on June 20, 1974, which passed about 25 miles west-southwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on July 15, 2024, which crossed near town.
Hail: 181 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 16 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on July 13, 2004.
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 Lake Carroll'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.
Lake Carroll radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lake Carroll, IL?
KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 53 miles southwest. KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI) is 87 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lake Carroll?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lake Carroll the lowest scan from KDVN is about 3,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Lake Carroll 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 Lake Carroll, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Lanark, IL radar 5 mi
- Mount Carroll, IL radar 8 mi
- Freeport, IL radar 14 mi
- Stockton, IL radar 14 mi
- Lena, IL radar 15 mi
- Forreston, IL radar 15 mi
- Savanna, IL radar 15 mi
- Thomson, IL radar 19 mi
- Polo, IL radar 19 mi
- Warren, IL radar 23 mi