Prairie City, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Prairie City, McDonough County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Prairie City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 101 days in the McDonough forecast zone and McDonough County — the most common reported hazard around Prairie City, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (64 days) and flash flooding (36 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 101 | Jun 2026 | Jun 25, 2003 · $1.9 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 64 | Nov 2025 | Nov 24, 2004 · $5,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 36 | Jun 2026 | Apr 17, 2013 · $250,000 damage |
| Flooding | 29 | Jun 2022 | Jun 22, 2010 · $250,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 12 | Jan 2019 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 11 | Dec 2024 | Jan 5, 2005 · $10,000 damage |
| High winds | 6 | May 2008 | Apr 6, 1997 · $100,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 5 | Aug 2013 | — |
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 McDonough forecast zone and McDonough County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Prairie City get?
A normal year brings about 21 inches of snow to Prairie City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Prairie City 2S weather station 2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (6.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 1.1 | 5.0 | 5.7 | 6.0 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 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 Prairie City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KILX (Lincoln, IL), about 68 miles east-southeast. 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 Prairie City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 68 mi east-southeast | 5,400 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 69 mi north | 5,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLSX St. Louis, MO | 133 mi south | 15,000 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 Prairie City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 125 tornadoes within 25 miles of Prairie City, 23 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on May 13, 1995, which passed about 19 miles south-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on June 3, 2025, which passed about 21 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 313 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 28 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 9, 1995.
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 Prairie 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.
Prairie City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Prairie City, IL?
KILX (Lincoln, IL), about 68 miles east-southeast. KDVN (Quad Cities, IA) is 69 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Prairie City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Prairie City the lowest scan from KILX is about 5,400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Prairie 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 Prairie City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Macomb, IL radar 15 mi
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- Colchester, IL radar 22 mi
- Knoxville, IL radar 22 mi
- Monmouth, IL radar 22 mi
- Lewistown, IL radar 22 mi
- Canton, IL radar 23 mi
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