Steward, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Steward, Lee County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Steward?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 96 days in the Lee forecast zone and Lee County — the most common reported hazard around Steward, mostly in June and May. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (41 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (27 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 96 | Jun 2026 | Jun 24, 2013 · $100,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 41 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 27 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 17 | Aug 2025 | May 13, 2010 · $10,000 damage |
| High winds | 14 | Mar 2026 | Oct 26, 2010 · $50,000 damage |
| Flooding | 13 | Jun 2020 | — |
| Excessive heat | 9 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Feb 2019 | — |
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 Lee forecast zone and Lee County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Steward get?
A normal year brings about 28 inches of snow to Steward, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Steward 3S weather station 2.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (8.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 1.5 | 6.9 | 8.6 | 8.8 | 1.9 | 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 Steward?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 51 miles east-southeast. 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 Steward | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 51 mi east-southeast | 3,700 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 81 mi north-northeast | 7,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 82 mi west | 7,200 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 Steward
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 94 tornadoes within 25 miles of Steward, 11 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an EF4 on April 9, 2015, which passed about 10 miles northwest of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on July 15, 2024, which passed about 22 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 194 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 24 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on June 7, 1980.
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 Steward'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.
Steward radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Steward, IL?
KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 51 miles east-southeast. KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI) is 81 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Steward?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Steward the lowest scan from KLOT is about 3,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Steward 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 Steward, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Rochelle, IL radar 5 mi
- Hillcrest, IL radar 8 mi
- Malta, IL radar 9 mi
- Waterman, IL radar 14 mi
- DeKalb, IL radar 15 mi
- Cortland, IL radar 18 mi
- Earlville, IL radar 19 mi
- Davis Junction, IL radar 19 mi
- Kirkland, IL radar 19 mi
- Amboy, IL radar 19 mi