Lake City, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lake City, Moultrie County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lake City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 60 days in the Moultrie forecast zone and Moultrie County — the most common reported hazard around Lake City, mostly in May and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (34 days) and flash flooding (24 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 60 | Jun 2026 | Jul 19, 2010 · $1.1 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 34 | Jan 2026 | Jan 1, 1999 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 24 | Jun 2026 | Jan 13, 2005 · $168,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 13 | Aug 2023 | — |
| High winds | 10 | Mar 2023 | Dec 23, 2007 · $12,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 7 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 7 | Jan 2020 | Dec 27, 2015 · $500,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 2 | Feb 2016 | — |
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 Moultrie forecast zone and Moultrie County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Lake City get?
A normal year brings about 15 inches of snow to Lake City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Lovington weather station 5.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (4.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.5 | 4.7 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 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 Lake City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KILX (Lincoln, IL), about 43 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 Lake City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 43 mi northwest | 2,900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KVWX Evansville, IN | 116 mi south-southeast | 12,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 128 mi southwest | 14,100 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 Lake City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 172 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lake City, 31 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on March 20, 1976, which passed about 5 miles north-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF2 on December 28, 2025, which passed about 5 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 215 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 20 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on April 7, 1998.
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 City'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 City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lake City, IL?
KILX (Lincoln, IL), about 43 miles northwest. KVWX (Evansville, IN) is 116 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lake City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lake City the lowest scan from KILX is about 2,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Lake City 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 City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Lovington, IL radar 5 mi
- Bethany, IL radar 8 mi
- Long Creek, IL radar 8 mi
- Mount Zion, IL radar 9 mi
- Cerro Gordo, IL radar 9 mi
- Sullivan, IL radar 12 mi
- Decatur, IL radar 13 mi
- Arthur, IL radar 14 mi
- Atwood, IL radar 14 mi
- Bement, IL radar 14 mi