Rockdale, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Rockdale, Will County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Rockdale?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 199 days in the Northern Will forecast zone and Will County — the most common reported hazard around Rockdale, mostly in June and July. Next come flooding (63 days) and flash flooding (46 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 199 | Jun 2026 | Jun 24, 2013 · $800,000 damage |
| Flooding | 63 | Jun 2026 | Feb 20, 2018 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 46 | Aug 2025 | Jul 17, 1996 · 2 deaths |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 30 | Aug 2025 | Jul 28, 2021 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 9 | Jan 2026 | Jan 14, 2024 · 1 death |
| Excessive heat | 9 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 6 | Nov 2025 | — |
| High winds | 2 | 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 Northern Will forecast zone and Will County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Rockdale get?
A normal year brings about 17 inches of snow to Rockdale, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Joliet Brandon Rd Dam weather station 1.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (6.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.3 | 3.2 | 5.0 | 6.2 | 2.1 | 0.1 | 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 Rockdale?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 7 miles north-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 Rockdale | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 7 mi north-northeast | 400 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 103 mi north-northwest | 10,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 113 mi southwest | 11,600 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 Rockdale
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 175 tornadoes within 25 miles of Rockdale, 38 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F5 on August 28, 1990, which passed about 2 miles northeast of town and caused 29 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on March 19, 2025, which touched down about 3 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 482 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 31 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 6.00-inch hail on April 23, 1961.
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 Rockdale'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.
Rockdale radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Rockdale, IL?
KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 7 miles north-northeast. KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI) is 103 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Rockdale?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Rockdale the lowest scan from KLOT is about 400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Rockdale 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 Rockdale, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Joliet, IL radar 1 mi
- Shorewood, IL radar 5 mi
- Crest Hill, IL radar 5 mi
- Elwood, IL radar 6 mi
- Lockport, IL radar 8 mi
- New Lenox, IL radar 8 mi
- Romeoville, IL radar 9 mi
- Channahon, IL radar 9 mi
- Minooka, IL radar 9 mi
- Manhattan, IL radar 9 mi