Sterling, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Sterling, Whiteside County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Sterling?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 110 days in the Whiteside forecast zone and Whiteside County — the most common reported hazard around Sterling, mostly in June and May. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (72 days) and flooding (35 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 110 | Jun 2026 | Aug 25, 2014 · $250,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 72 | Nov 2025 | Jan 6, 2005 · $10,000 damage |
| Flooding | 35 | Jul 2024 | May 23, 2003 · $1.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 19 | Jun 2020 | Jul 29, 2016 · $1.0 million damage |
| High winds | 16 | May 2019 | Apr 6, 1997 · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 15 | Jan 2019 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 8 | Feb 2019 | — |
| Blizzards | 6 | 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 Whiteside forecast zone and Whiteside County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Sterling get?
A normal year brings about 29 inches of snow to Sterling, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Rock Falls 3 Ne weather station 2.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (9.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 1.8 | 7.9 | 9.0 | 6.4 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 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 Sterling?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 47 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 Sterling | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 47 mi west-southwest | 3,300 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 84 mi east | 7,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 100 mi northeast | 9,600 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 Sterling
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 113 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sterling, 20 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an EF4 on April 9, 2015, which passed about 21 miles east of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on April 20, 2025, which touched down about 16 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 208 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 15 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on July 13, 2004.
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 Sterling'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.
Sterling radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Sterling, IL?
KDVN (Quad Cities, IA), about 47 miles west-southwest. KLOT (Chicago, IL) is 84 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Sterling?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Sterling the lowest scan from KDVN is about 3,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Sterling 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 Sterling, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Rock Falls, IL radar 2 mi
- Dixon, IL radar 12 mi
- Morrison, IL radar 14 mi
- Polo, IL radar 14 mi
- Prophetstown, IL radar 15 mi
- Walnut, IL radar 18 mi
- Amboy, IL radar 19 mi
- Mount Morris, IL radar 22 mi
- Lanark, IL radar 22 mi
- Erie, IL radar 22 mi