Wheaton, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Wheaton, DuPage County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Wheaton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 151 days in the DuPage forecast zone and DuPage County — the most common reported hazard around Wheaton, mostly in June and July. Next come flooding (61 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (54 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 151 | Jun 2026 | Aug 2, 2015 · 2 deaths |
| Flooding | 61 | Jun 2026 | May 15, 2020 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 54 | Nov 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 51 | Aug 2025 | Sep 14, 2008 · $8.0 million damage |
| High winds | 34 | Jun 2026 | Oct 26, 2010 · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 27 | Jan 2026 | Feb 3, 2021 · 1 death |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 19 | Jul 2023 | May 30, 2013 · 1 death |
| Excessive heat | 12 | Jun 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 DuPage forecast zone and DuPage County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Wheaton get?
A normal year brings about 24 inches of snow to Wheaton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Wheaton 3 Se weather station 3.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (9.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.9 | 4.2 | 9.3 | 5.1 | 4.5 | 0.3 | 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 Wheaton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 18 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 Wheaton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 18 mi south | 1,000 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 80 mi north-northwest | 6,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 129 mi west | 14,200 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 Wheaton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 197 tornadoes within 25 miles of Wheaton, 34 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F5 on August 28, 1990, which passed about 17 miles southwest of town and caused 29 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on March 14, 2025, which passed about 20 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 833 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 50 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.50-inch hail on May 12, 2000.
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 Wheaton'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.
Wheaton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Wheaton, IL?
KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 18 miles south. KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI) is 80 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Wheaton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Wheaton the lowest scan from KLOT is about 1,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Wheaton 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 Wheaton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.