River Forest, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for River Forest, Cook County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits River Forest?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 260 days in the Central Cook forecast zone and Cook County — the most common reported hazard around River Forest, mostly in July and June. Next come flooding (123 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 | 123 | 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 |
| High winds | 18 | Mar 2026 | Mar 15, 2025 · $5,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 9 | Jan 2026 | Feb 15, 2021 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 8 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 7 | 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 Central Cook forecast zone and Cook County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does River Forest get?
A normal year brings about 42 inches of snow to River Forest, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Oak Brook 2W weather station 8.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (14.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.6 | 9.7 | 12.6 | 14.5 | 4.1 | 0.8 | 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 River Forest?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 24 miles southwest. 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 River Forest | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 24 mi southwest | 1,400 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 83 mi north-northwest | 7,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KIWX Fort Wayne, IN | 116 mi east-southeast | 12,000 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 River Forest
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 133 tornadoes within 25 miles of River Forest, 25 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F4 on April 21, 1967, which passed about 15 miles south-southeast of town and caused 33 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on March 14, 2025, which touched down about 18 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 654 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 33 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 River Forest'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.
River Forest radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to River Forest, IL?
KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 24 miles southwest. KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI) is 83 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in River Forest?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over River Forest the lowest scan from KLOT is about 1,400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for River Forest 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 River Forest, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.