Rochester, WI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Rochester, Racine County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Rochester?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 90 days in the Racine forecast zone and Racine County — the most common reported hazard around Rochester, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (63 days) and excessive heat (46 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 90 | Apr 2026 | Aug 21, 2002 · $1.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 63 | Nov 2025 | Jan 12, 2024 · $20,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 46 | Jun 2026 | Jul 29, 1999 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 36 | Mar 2026 | Sep 26, 2011 · 1 death · $7,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 35 | Jan 2026 | Feb 5, 2018 · 1 death |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 22 | Aug 2009 | Jun 30, 1997 · 1 death |
| High winds | 21 | Mar 2026 | Nov 10, 1998 · $675,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 16 | Apr 2026 | Jun 8, 2008 · $3.6 million 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 Racine forecast zone and Racine County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Rochester get?
A normal year brings about 38 inches of snow to Rochester, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Burlington weather station 5.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (12.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 2.2 | 7.7 | 12.1 | 9.7 | 4.9 | 1.1 | 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 Rochester?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI), about 22 miles 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 Rochester | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMKX Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI | 22 mi northwest | 1,300 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 78 mi south | 6,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KGRB Green Bay, WI | 122 mi north | 13,100 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 Rochester
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 114 tornadoes within 25 miles of Rochester, 23 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F4 on April 27, 1984, which passed about 18 miles north-northwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on June 22, 2024, which passed about 15 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 391 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 34 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on June 23, 1960.
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 Rochester'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.
Rochester radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Rochester, WI?
KMKX (Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI), about 22 miles northwest. KLOT (Chicago, IL) is 78 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Rochester?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Rochester the lowest scan from KMKX is about 1,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Rochester 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 Rochester, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Waterford, WI radar 3 mi
- Burlington, WI radar 4 mi
- East Troy, WI radar 8 mi
- Mukwonago, WI radar 9 mi
- Vernon, WI radar 10 mi
- Union Grove, WI radar 11 mi
- Big Bend, WI radar 11 mi
- Muskego, WI radar 11 mi
- Yorkville, WI radar 13 mi
- Raymond, WI radar 13 mi