Topeka, IL Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Topeka, Mason County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for Topeka What TALON shows

What weather hits Topeka?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 94 days in the Mason forecast zone and Mason County — the most common reported hazard around Topeka, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (38 days) and flash flooding (17 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds	94	Jun 2026	Aug 12, 1999 · $12 million damage
Heavy snow & winter storms	38	Dec 2025	—
Flash flooding	17	Feb 2023	—
Excessive heat	14	Aug 2024	—
Flooding	10	Apr 2017	May 12, 2002 · 1 death
High winds	8	Mar 2025	—
Extreme cold & wind chill	8	Jan 2024	—
Ice storms & sleet	7	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 Mason forecast zone and Mason County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

How much snow does Topeka get?

A normal year brings about 28 inches of snow to Topeka, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Havana weather station 7.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (9.7 in).

Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May
0.0	1.1	6.9	9.7	5.8	3.2	1.2	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 Topeka?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KILX (Lincoln, IL), about 34 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 Topeka	View
KILX Lincoln, IL	34 mi east-southeast	2,100 ft	Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KDVN Quad Cities, IA	95 mi north-northwest	8,900 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KLSX St. Louis, MO	120 mi south-southwest	12,700 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 Topeka

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 122 tornadoes within 25 miles of Topeka, 29 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on May 13, 1995, which passed about 12 miles west-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on December 28, 2025, which touched down about 25 miles northeast of town.

Hail: 253 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 26 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on April 4, 2023.

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 Topeka'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.

Topeka radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Topeka, IL?

KILX (Lincoln, IL), about 34 miles east-southeast. KDVN (Quad Cities, IA) is 95 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Topeka?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Topeka the lowest scan from KILX is about 2,100 ft up.

Is TALON's radar for Topeka 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 Topeka, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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