Vernon Hills, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Vernon Hills, Lake County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Vernon Hills?
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 Vernon Hills, 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 Vernon Hills get?
A normal year brings about 43 inches of snow to Vernon Hills, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Mundelein 4 Wsw weather station 6.1 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 Vernon Hills?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 44 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 Vernon Hills | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 44 mi south | 3,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 59 mi north-northwest | 4,400 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KGRR Grand Rapids, MI | 131 mi east-northeast | 14,600 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 Vernon Hills
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 83 tornadoes within 25 miles of Vernon Hills, 21 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F4 on April 11, 1965, which passed about 12 miles west-northwest of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on March 14, 2025, which touched down about 20 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 511 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 25 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 Vernon Hills'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.
Vernon Hills radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Vernon Hills, IL?
KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 44 miles south. KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI) is 59 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Vernon Hills?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Vernon Hills the lowest scan from KLOT is about 3,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Vernon Hills 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 Vernon Hills, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.