Lake Petersburg, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lake Petersburg, Menard County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lake Petersburg?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 82 days in the Menard forecast zone and Menard County — the most common reported hazard around Lake Petersburg, mostly in June and May. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (32 days) and flash flooding (17 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 82 | Jun 2026 | Aug 12, 1999 · $6.1 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 32 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 17 | Jun 2026 | May 8, 1996 · $1.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 15 | Aug 2024 | — |
| High winds | 11 | Mar 2025 | Dec 23, 2007 · $18,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 7 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Jan 2024 | Dec 8, 2007 · $30,000 damage |
| Flooding | 3 | May 2019 | — |
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 Menard forecast zone and Menard County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Lake Petersburg get?
A normal year brings about 18 inches of snow to Lake Petersburg, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Petersburg 3Ssw weather station 1.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (6.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.5 | 4.9 | 6.9 | 4.2 | 1.9 | 0.0 | 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 Petersburg?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KILX (Lincoln, IL), about 30 miles east-northeast. 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 Petersburg | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 30 mi east-northeast | 1,800 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 99 mi south-southwest | 9,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 119 mi north-northwest | 12,500 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 Petersburg
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 140 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lake Petersburg, 34 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and April. The strongest was an F4 on June 14, 1957, which passed about 18 miles south-southeast of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on September 20, 2025, which touched down about 18 miles northeast of town.
Hail: 256 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 23 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.50-inch hail on May 5, 1977.
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 Petersburg'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 Petersburg radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lake Petersburg, IL?
KILX (Lincoln, IL), about 30 miles east-northeast. KLSX (St. Louis, MO) is 99 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lake Petersburg?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lake Petersburg the lowest scan from KILX is about 1,800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Lake Petersburg 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 Petersburg, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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