Tower Lakes, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Tower Lakes, Lake County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Tower Lakes?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 120 days in the Lake forecast zone and Lake County — the most common reported hazard around Tower Lakes, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (60 days) and flooding (40 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 120 | Jun 2026 | Aug 7, 2007 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 60 | Dec 2025 | Jan 27, 2019 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 40 | Jun 2026 | Jun 13, 2008 · $500,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 35 | Jul 2024 | Jul 12, 2017 · $13 million damage |
| High winds | 32 | Apr 2026 | Oct 26, 2010 · $100,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 21 | Sep 2018 | Jun 3, 2002 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 20 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 9 | Jun 2026 | Jul 28, 1999 · 3 deaths |
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 Lake forecast zone and Lake County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Tower Lakes get?
A normal year brings about 43 inches of snow to Tower Lakes, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Mundelein 4 Wsw weather station 4.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (12.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 2.5 | 9.7 | 11.0 | 12.8 | 5.3 | 1.8 | 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 Tower Lakes?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 43 miles south. 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 Tower Lakes | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 43 mi south | 2,900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 55 mi north-northwest | 4,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 132 mi west-southwest | 14,800 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 Tower Lakes
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 110 tornadoes within 25 miles of Tower Lakes, 27 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F4 on April 21, 1967, which passed about 16 miles west-northwest of town and caused 24 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on March 14, 2025, which touched down about 17 miles south of town.
Hail: 537 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 26 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.90-inch hail on May 2, 2018.
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 Tower Lakes'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.
Tower Lakes radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Tower Lakes, IL?
KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 43 miles south. KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI) is 55 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Tower Lakes?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Tower Lakes the lowest scan from KLOT is about 2,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Tower Lakes 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 Tower Lakes, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.