St. John, IN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for St. John, Lake County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits St. John?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 124 days in the Lake forecast zone and Lake County — the most common reported hazard around St. John, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (57 days) and flooding (51 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 124 | Jun 2026 | Jul 15, 2024 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 57 | Jan 2026 | Dec 11, 2010 · $10,000 damage |
| Flooding | 51 | Jun 2026 | Sep 14, 2008 · $15 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 35 | Jun 2026 | Sep 17, 2023 · $10 million damage |
| High winds | 33 | Apr 2026 | Mar 8, 2017 · $25,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 16 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 12 | Jun 2016 | Sep 19, 2013 · 1 death · $75,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 9 | 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 Lake forecast zone and Lake County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does St. John get?
A normal year brings about 27 inches of snow to St. John, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Crown Pt 1N weather station 5.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (10.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.4 | 4.7 | 10.3 | 6.3 | 4.3 | 0.6 | 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 St. John?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 34 miles west-northwest. 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 St. John | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 34 mi west-northwest | 2,100 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KIWX Fort Wayne, IN | 92 mi east | 8,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 119 mi north-northwest | 12,600 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 St. John
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 151 tornadoes within 25 miles of St. John, 35 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and March. The strongest was an F4 on April 21, 1967, which passed about 20 miles north-northwest of town and caused 33 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on March 30, 2025, which passed about 21 miles south of town.
Hail: 324 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 19 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 St. John'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.
St. John radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to St. John, IN?
KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 34 miles west-northwest. KIWX (Fort Wayne, IN) is 92 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in St. John?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over St. John the lowest scan from KLOT is about 2,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for St. John 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 St. John, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Schererville, IN radar 3 mi
- Dyer, IN radar 4 mi
- Cedar Lake, IN radar 5 mi
- Griffith, IN radar 6 mi
- Crown Point, IN radar 7 mi
- Highland, IN radar 7 mi
- Munster, IN radar 8 mi
- Merrillville, IN radar 8 mi
- Lowell, IN radar 11 mi
- Winfield, IN radar 11 mi