Sibley, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Sibley, Ford County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Sibley?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 72 days in the Ford forecast zone and Ford County — the most common reported hazard around Sibley, mostly in June and May. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (30 days) and flooding (19 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 72 | Jun 2026 | Jun 21, 2010 · $750,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 30 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 19 | Apr 2026 | Jan 8, 2008 · $500,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 17 | Aug 2023 | Aug 12, 2021 · $12 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 16 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 15 | May 2025 | Mar 4, 2025 · $1,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 9 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 2 | Feb 2011 | — |
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 Ford forecast zone and Ford County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Sibley get?
A normal year brings about 18 inches of snow to Sibley, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Gibson City weather station 7.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (6.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 1.1 | 4.6 | 6.7 | 4.1 | 1.4 | 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 Sibley?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KILX (Lincoln, IL), about 59 miles west-southwest. 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 Sibley | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 59 mi west-southwest | 4,400 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 72 mi north-northeast | 5,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KIND Indianapolis, IN | 126 mi east-southeast | 13,800 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 Sibley
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 137 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sibley, 21 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F3 on April 7, 1954, which passed about 20 miles north of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on December 28, 2025, which touched down about 12 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 141 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 10 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on May 15, 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 Sibley'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.
Sibley radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Sibley, IL?
KILX (Lincoln, IL), about 59 miles west-southwest. KLOT (Chicago, IL) is 72 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Sibley?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Sibley the lowest scan from KILX is about 4,400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Sibley 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 Sibley, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Gibson City, IL radar 8 mi
- Chatsworth, IL radar 10 mi
- Forrest, IL radar 11 mi
- Fairbury, IL radar 13 mi
- Paxton, IL radar 17 mi
- Fisher, IL radar 19 mi
- Chenoa, IL radar 21 mi
- Onarga, IL radar 21 mi
- Lexington, IL radar 22 mi
- Rantoul, IL radar 23 mi