Serena, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Serena, La Salle County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Serena?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 163 days in the La Salle forecast zone and La Salle County — the most common reported hazard around Serena, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (48 days) and flooding (41 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 163 | Jun 2026 | Oct 3, 2000 · $100,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 48 | Nov 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 41 | Jan 2025 | Sep 15, 2008 · $5.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 29 | Aug 2025 | Apr 18, 2013 · 1 death · $75 million damage |
| High winds | 21 | Jun 2026 | Jan 29, 2008 · $250,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 19 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 15 | Jul 2018 | Aug 8, 2011 · $50,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 12 | 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 La Salle forecast zone and La Salle County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Serena get?
A normal year brings about 25 inches of snow to Serena, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Marseilles Lock weather station 11 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (8.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.8 | 5.3 | 8.4 | 7.3 | 2.9 | 0.3 | 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 Serena?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 34 miles east-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 Serena | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 34 mi east-northeast | 2,200 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 96 mi west | 9,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 98 mi south-southwest | 9,300 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 Serena
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 115 tornadoes within 25 miles of Serena, 20 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F5 on August 28, 1990, which passed about 24 miles northeast of town and caused 29 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on March 14, 2025, which passed about 17 miles east-northeast of town.
Hail: 209 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 26 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.75-inch hail on June 10, 2015.
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 Serena'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.
Serena radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Serena, IL?
KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 34 miles east-northeast. KDVN (Quad Cities, IA) is 96 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Serena?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Serena the lowest scan from KLOT is about 2,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Serena 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 Serena, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Sheridan, IL radar 4 mi
- Ottawa, IL radar 10 mi
- Somonauk, IL radar 10 mi
- Earlville, IL radar 12 mi
- Sandwich, IL radar 13 mi
- Seneca, IL radar 14 mi
- Marseilles, IL radar 14 mi
- Plano, IL radar 17 mi
- North Utica, IL radar 18 mi
- Morris, IL radar 18 mi