Leland, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Leland, La Salle County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Leland?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 163 days in the La Salle forecast zone and La Salle County — the most common reported hazard around Leland, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (48 days) and flooding (41 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 163 | Jun 2026 | Oct 3, 2000 · $100,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 48 | Nov 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 41 | Jan 2025 | Sep 15, 2008 · $5.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 29 | Aug 2025 | Apr 18, 2013 · 1 death · $75 million damage |
| High winds | 21 | Jun 2026 | Jan 29, 2008 · $250,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 19 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 15 | Jul 2018 | Aug 8, 2011 · $50,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 12 | Jun 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 La Salle forecast zone and La Salle County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Leland get?
A normal year brings about 30 inches of snow to Leland, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Shabbona 3S weather station 8.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (10.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.5 | 8.3 | 10.2 | 7.1 | 3.4 | 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 Leland?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 37 miles east. 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 Leland | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 37 mi east | 2,400 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 92 mi west | 8,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 94 mi north | 8,800 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 Leland
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 124 tornadoes within 25 miles of Leland, 18 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F5 on August 28, 1990, which passed about 24 miles east of town and caused 29 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on March 14, 2025, which passed about 18 miles east of town.
Hail: 211 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 32 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.75-inch hail on July 13, 2015.
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 Leland'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.
Leland radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Leland, IL?
KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 37 miles east. KDVN (Quad Cities, IA) is 92 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Leland?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Leland the lowest scan from KLOT is about 2,400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Leland 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 Leland, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Somonauk, IL radar 6 mi
- Earlville, IL radar 7 mi
- Sheridan, IL radar 9 mi
- Sandwich, IL radar 10 mi
- Waterman, IL radar 10 mi
- Hinckley, IL radar 13 mi
- Plano, IL radar 14 mi
- Mendota, IL radar 16 mi
- Big Rock, IL radar 17 mi
- Ottawa, IL radar 18 mi