Palatine, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Palatine, Cook County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Palatine?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 260 days in the Northern Cook forecast zone and Cook County — the most common reported hazard around Palatine, mostly in July and June. Next come flooding (121 days) and flash flooding (112 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 260 | Jun 2026 | Aug 23, 2007 · 1 death · $100,000 damage |
| Flooding | 121 | Jun 2026 | Sep 13, 2008 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 112 | Jun 2026 | Sep 13, 2008 · 1 death · $35 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 48 | Aug 2025 | Jul 22, 2001 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 11 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 8 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 7 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 6 | 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 Northern Cook forecast zone and Cook County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Palatine get?
A normal year brings about 39 inches of snow to Palatine, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Barrington 3Sw weather station 6.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (12.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 2.0 | 9.6 | 12.6 | 8.5 | 4.6 | 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 Palatine?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 35 miles south. 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 Palatine | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 35 mi south | 2,300 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 64 mi north-northwest | 5,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KIWX Fort Wayne, IN | 132 mi east-southeast | 14,700 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 Palatine
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 128 tornadoes within 25 miles of Palatine, 29 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F4 on April 11, 1965, which passed about 13 miles north-northwest of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on March 14, 2025, which touched down about 11 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 632 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 38 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 Palatine'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.
Palatine radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Palatine, IL?
KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 35 miles south. KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI) is 64 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Palatine?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Palatine the lowest scan from KLOT is about 2,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Palatine 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 Palatine, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.