River Forest, IN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for River Forest, Madison County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits River Forest?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 129 days in the Madison forecast zone and Madison County — the most common reported hazard around River Forest, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (41 days) and flooding (37 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 129 | Jun 2026 | Jun 4, 2011 · 1 death · $12,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 41 | Jan 2026 | Feb 15, 2021 · $100,000 damage |
| Flooding | 37 | Jun 2025 | Sep 1, 2003 · $5.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 16 | Jul 2022 | Sep 1, 2003 · $2.5 million damage |
| High winds | 15 | Mar 2026 | Nov 27, 2019 · $80,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 7 | Jun 2009 | Mar 19, 2007 · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 6 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Nov 2018 | Nov 14, 2018 · $1,000 damage |
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 Madison forecast zone and Madison County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does River Forest get?
A normal year brings about 21 inches of snow to River Forest, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Anderson Sewage Plt weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually January (8.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.7 | 5.0 | 8.3 | 4.7 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 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 River Forest?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KIND (Indianapolis, IN), about 40 miles southwest. 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 River Forest | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KIND Indianapolis, IN | 40 mi southwest | 2,700 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KIWX Fort Wayne, IN | 86 mi north | 7,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KILN Wilmington, OH | 112 mi east-southeast | 11,400 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 River Forest
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 133 tornadoes within 25 miles of River Forest, 51 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and June. The strongest was an F4 on April 11, 1965, which passed about 16 miles west-northwest of town and caused 28 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on April 2, 2025, which passed about 18 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 381 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 25 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on May 18, 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 River Forest'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.
River Forest radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to River Forest, IN?
KIND (Indianapolis, IN), about 40 miles southwest. KIWX (Fort Wayne, IN) is 86 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in River Forest?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over River Forest the lowest scan from KIND is about 2,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for River Forest 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 River Forest, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Edgewood, IN radar 1 mi
- Anderson, IN radar 3 mi
- Chesterfield, IN radar 7 mi
- Pendleton, IN radar 7 mi
- Lapel, IN radar 8 mi
- Frankton, IN radar 8 mi
- Daleville, IN radar 9 mi
- Middletown, IN radar 10 mi
- Alexandria, IN radar 11 mi
- Ingalls, IN radar 11 mi