Rapids City, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Rapids City, Rock Island County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Rapids City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 107 days in the Rock Island forecast zone and Rock Island County — the most common reported hazard around Rapids City, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (77 days) and flooding (67 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 107 | Jun 2026 | Mar 12, 2006 · $300,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 77 | Nov 2025 | Jan 4, 2004 · $5,000 damage |
| Flooding | 67 | Jul 2024 | Apr 1, 2019 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 28 | Jun 2026 | Feb 20, 1997 · $550,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 17 | Jan 2021 | Jan 18, 2021 · 1 death |
| High winds | 15 | Dec 2024 | Apr 6, 1997 · $250,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 10 | Dec 2024 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 8 | Jun 2010 | Jun 10, 1999 · 2 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 Rock Island forecast zone and Rock Island County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Rapids City get?
A normal year brings about 36 inches of snow to Rapids City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Moline Quad City Intl Ap weather station 12.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (10.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 2.1 | 8.8 | 10.8 | 8.6 | 4.4 | 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 Rapids City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 13 miles west. 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 Rapids City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 13 mi west | 700 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 112 mi south-southeast | 11,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 117 mi east | 12,200 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 Rapids City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 185 tornadoes within 25 miles of Rapids City, 42 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F4 on March 29, 1981, which passed about 21 miles east-northeast of town. The most recent was an EF2 on July 11, 2025, which passed about 15 miles west of town.
Hail: 399 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 47 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 7.00-inch hail on September 27, 1959.
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 Rapids 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.
Rapids City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Rapids City, IL?
KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 13 miles west. KILX (Lincoln, IL) is 112 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Rapids City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Rapids City the lowest scan from KDVN is about 700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Rapids 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 Rapids City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Port Byron, IL radar 3 mi
- Hampton, IL radar 4 mi
- East Moline, IL radar 5 mi
- Carbon Cliff, IL radar 6 mi
- Silvis, IL radar 7 mi
- Colona, IL radar 7 mi
- Moline, IL radar 10 mi
- Coal Valley, IL radar 11 mi
- Geneseo, IL radar 13 mi
- Erie, IL radar 14 mi