Lake Forest, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lake Forest, Lake County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lake Forest?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 120 days in the Lake forecast zone and Lake County — the most common reported hazard around Lake Forest, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (60 days) and flooding (40 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 120 | Jun 2026 | Aug 7, 2007 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 60 | Dec 2025 | Jan 27, 2019 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 40 | Jun 2026 | Jun 13, 2008 · $500,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 35 | Jul 2024 | Jul 12, 2017 · $13 million damage |
| High winds | 32 | Apr 2026 | Oct 26, 2010 · $100,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 21 | Sep 2018 | Jun 3, 2002 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 20 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 9 | Jun 2026 | Jul 28, 1999 · 3 deaths |
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 Lake forecast zone and Lake County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Lake Forest get?
A normal year brings about 34 inches of snow to Lake Forest, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Chicago Botanic Garden weather station 7.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (11.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 1.9 | 5.9 | 11.3 | 7.7 | 5.6 | 1.1 | 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 Forest?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 45 miles south-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 Forest | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 45 mi south-southwest | 3,100 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 62 mi northwest | 4,700 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KGRR Grand Rapids, MI | 126 mi east-northeast | 13,800 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 Forest
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 77 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lake Forest, 19 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F4 on April 11, 1965, which passed about 17 miles west of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on March 14, 2025, which touched down about 23 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 464 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 22 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on April 7, 2020.
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 Forest'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 Forest radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lake Forest, IL?
KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 45 miles south-southwest. KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI) is 62 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lake Forest?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lake Forest the lowest scan from KLOT is about 3,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Lake Forest 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 Forest, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.