Rock Island, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Rock Island, Rock Island County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Rock Island?
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 Rock Island, 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 Rock Island get?
A normal year brings about 36 inches of snow to Rock Island, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Moline Quad City Intl Ap weather station 3.2 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 Rock Island?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 10 miles north. 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 Island | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 10 mi north | 500 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 112 mi southeast | 11,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 130 mi east | 14,400 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 Rock Island
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 180 tornadoes within 25 miles of Rock Island, 42 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an EF3 on June 1, 2007, which passed about 23 miles west of town. The most recent was an EF2 on July 11, 2025, which passed about 6 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 416 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 50 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 Rock Island'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 Island radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Rock Island, IL?
KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 10 miles north. KILX (Lincoln, IL) is 112 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Rock Island?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Rock Island the lowest scan from KDVN is about 500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Rock Island 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 Island, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Milan, IL radar 3 mi
- Moline, IL radar 5 mi
- Andalusia, IL radar 7 mi
- Coal Valley, IL radar 8 mi
- Silvis, IL radar 9 mi
- Carbon Cliff, IL radar 10 mi
- East Moline, IL radar 11 mi
- Hampton, IL radar 11 mi
- Colona, IL radar 13 mi
- Orion, IL radar 14 mi