Riley, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Riley, McHenry County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Riley?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 148 days in the McHenry forecast zone and McHenry County — the most common reported hazard around Riley, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (53 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (25 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 148 | Jun 2026 | Jul 17, 2006 · $200,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 53 | Mar 2026 | Feb 23, 2012 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 25 | Jan 2026 | Jan 11, 2016 · 1 death |
| High winds | 24 | Jun 2026 | Apr 7, 2001 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 24 | Jun 2026 | Jul 12, 2017 · $3.9 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 16 | Jun 2026 | Aug 7, 2007 · $500,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 16 | Jun 2024 | Aug 5, 1996 · $200,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 9 | 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 McHenry forecast zone and McHenry County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Riley get?
A normal year brings about 31 inches of snow to Riley, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Marengo weather station 5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (9.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 1.6 | 9.3 | 8.0 | 9.1 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 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 Riley?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 49 miles 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 Riley | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 49 mi southeast | 3,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 54 mi north | 3,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 108 mi west-southwest | 10,800 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 Riley
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 116 tornadoes within 25 miles of Riley, 16 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and July. The strongest was an F4 on April 21, 1967, which passed about 7 miles north-northwest of town and caused 24 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on June 3, 2025, which touched down about 15 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 359 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 17 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on May 2, 2018.
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 Riley'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.
Riley radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Riley, IL?
KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 49 miles southeast. KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI) is 54 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Riley?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Riley the lowest scan from KLOT is about 3,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Riley 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 Riley, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Marengo, IL radar 4 mi
- Genoa, IL radar 8 mi
- Hampshire, IL radar 8 mi
- Kingston, IL radar 9 mi
- Huntley, IL radar 10 mi
- Pingree Grove, IL radar 12 mi
- Lakewood, IL radar 13 mi
- Woodstock, IL radar 13 mi
- Kirkland, IL radar 13 mi
- Sycamore, IL radar 14 mi