Wilmington, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Wilmington, Will County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Wilmington?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 199 days in the Southern Will forecast zone and Will County — the most common reported hazard around Wilmington, mostly in June and July. Next come flooding (63 days) and flash flooding (46 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 199 | Jun 2026 | Jun 24, 2013 · $800,000 damage |
| Flooding | 63 | Jun 2026 | Feb 20, 2018 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 46 | Aug 2025 | Jul 17, 1996 · 2 deaths |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 30 | Aug 2025 | Jul 28, 2021 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 8 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 8 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 7 | Nov 2025 | — |
| Dust storms | 1 | May 2025 | — |
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 Southern Will forecast zone and Will County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Wilmington get?
A normal year brings about 18 inches of snow to Wilmington, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Channahon Dresden Isl Dam weather station 8.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (6.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.3 | 6.1 | 6.4 | 5.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 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 Wilmington?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 20 miles north. 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 Wilmington | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 20 mi north | 1,100 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 102 mi southwest | 9,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 116 mi north | 12,000 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 Wilmington
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 152 tornadoes within 25 miles of Wilmington, 32 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and April. The strongest was an F5 on August 28, 1990, which passed about 14 miles north-northeast of town and caused 29 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on March 19, 2025, which touched down about 13 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 293 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 13 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 6.00-inch hail on April 23, 1961.
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 Wilmington'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.
Wilmington radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Wilmington, IL?
KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 20 miles north. KILX (Lincoln, IL) is 102 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Wilmington?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Wilmington the lowest scan from KLOT is about 1,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Wilmington 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 Wilmington, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Braidwood, IL radar 5 mi
- Diamond, IL radar 5 mi
- Coal City, IL radar 7 mi
- Elwood, IL radar 7 mi
- Channahon, IL radar 9 mi
- Minooka, IL radar 11 mi
- Manhattan, IL radar 12 mi
- Gardner, IL radar 12 mi
- Rockdale, IL radar 13 mi
- Joliet, IL radar 14 mi