Sheldon, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Sheldon, Iroquois County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Sheldon?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 109 days in the Iroquois forecast zone and Iroquois County — the most common reported hazard around Sheldon, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (32 days) and flash flooding (23 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 109 | Jun 2026 | Jul 27, 2006 · $712,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 32 | Nov 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 23 | Aug 2023 | Feb 4, 2008 · $1.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 21 | Feb 2023 | Jan 8, 2008 · $3.0 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 19 | Jan 2026 | Jan 21, 2011 · 1 death |
| High winds | 14 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 9 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Jan 2021 | — |
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 Iroquois forecast zone and Iroquois County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Sheldon get?
A normal year brings about 17 inches of snow to Sheldon, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Watseka 2 Nw weather station 10 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (5.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.7 | 4.4 | 5.4 | 4.7 | 1.6 | 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 Sheldon?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 64 miles north-northwest. 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 Sheldon | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 64 mi north-northwest | 5,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KIND Indianapolis, IN | 100 mi southeast | 9,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 103 mi west-southwest | 10,000 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 Sheldon
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 112 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sheldon, 25 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F3 on March 12, 1976, which passed about 17 miles north-northwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on December 28, 2025, which passed about 19 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 151 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 22 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on June 14, 2010.
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 Sheldon'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.
Sheldon radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Sheldon, IL?
KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 64 miles north-northwest. KIND (Indianapolis, IN) is 100 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Sheldon?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Sheldon the lowest scan from KLOT is about 5,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Sheldon 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 Sheldon, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Watseka, IL radar 9 mi
- Milford, IL radar 12 mi
- St. Anne, IL radar 19 mi
- Hoopeston, IL radar 22 mi
- Clifton, IL radar 22 mi
- Gilman, IL radar 23 mi
- Onarga, IL radar 24 mi
- Chebanse, IL radar 24 mi
- Rossville, IL radar 27 mi
- Momence, IL radar 28 mi