Rock City, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Rock City, Stephenson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Rock City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 106 days in the Stephenson forecast zone and Stephenson County — the most common reported hazard around Rock City, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (82 days) and flash flooding (25 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 106 | Jun 2026 | Jul 5, 2003 · $2.5 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 82 | Nov 2025 | Jan 5, 2005 · $10,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 25 | Jun 2026 | Jul 27, 2011 · 2 deaths · $500,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 17 | Jan 2019 | — |
| Flooding | 15 | Mar 2019 | Jul 22, 2017 · $7.5 million damage |
| High winds | 13 | Feb 2016 | May 9, 2003 · $2.0 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 9 | Feb 2023 | — |
| Blizzards | 5 | Mar 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 Stephenson forecast zone and Stephenson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Rock City get?
A normal year brings about 35 inches of snow to Rock City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Freeport Waste Wtp weather station 10.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (9.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 2.6 | 8.9 | 9.7 | 8.5 | 3.8 | 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 Rock City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI), about 60 miles northeast. 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 Rock City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 60 mi northeast | 4,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 79 mi southwest | 6,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 91 mi southeast | 8,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
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 Rock City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 82 tornadoes within 25 miles of Rock City, 12 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F3 on April 16, 1967, which passed about 19 miles northwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on July 15, 2024, which passed about 22 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 284 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 29 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on August 16, 2025.
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 Rock 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.
Rock City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Rock City, IL?
KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI), about 60 miles northeast. KDVN (Quad Cities, IA) is 79 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Rock City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Rock City the lowest scan from KMKX is about 4,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Rock 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 Rock City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Durand, IL radar 7 mi
- Pecatonica, IL radar 9 mi
- Freeport, IL radar 12 mi
- Winnebago, IL radar 16 mi
- Lena, IL radar 18 mi
- Forreston, IL radar 21 mi
- Rockton, IL radar 21 mi
- Byron, IL radar 23 mi
- Machesney Park, IL radar 23 mi
- South Beloit, IL radar 23 mi