Bear Lake, IN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Bear Lake, Noble County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Bear Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 85 days in the Noble forecast zone and Noble County — the most common reported hazard around Bear Lake, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (37 days) and high winds (12 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 85 | May 2025 | May 18, 1997 · $4.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 37 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 12 | Dec 2021 | Sep 14, 2008 · $10,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 5 | Jan 2024 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Dec 2008 | Feb 24, 2007 · $25,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Jul 2013 | Jul 20, 2013 · $20,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 2 | Feb 2011 | — |
| Flooding | 2 | Mar 2009 | Mar 10, 2009 · $300,000 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 Noble forecast zone and Noble County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Bear Lake get?
A normal year brings about 24 inches of snow to Bear Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Ligonier 2 S weather station 8.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (9.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 1.3 | 5.3 | 9.5 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 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 Bear Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KIWX (Fort Wayne, IN), about 10 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 Bear Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KIWX Fort Wayne, IN | 10 mi west-northwest | 500 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KGRR Grand Rapids, MI | 108 mi north | 10,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KIND Indianapolis, IN | 119 mi south-southwest | 12,500 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 Bear Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 95 tornadoes within 25 miles of Bear Lake, 21 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and April. The strongest was an F4 on April 3, 1974, which passed about 11 miles northwest of town and caused 18 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on March 30, 2025, which touched down about 11 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 219 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 23 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 9.99-inch hail on May 6, 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 Bear Lake'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.
Bear Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Bear Lake, IN?
KIWX (Fort Wayne, IN), about 10 miles west-northwest. KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI) is 108 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Bear Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Bear Lake the lowest scan from KIWX is about 500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Bear Lake 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 Bear Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Albion, IN radar 7 mi
- Ligonier, IN radar 10 mi
- Columbia City, IN radar 11 mi
- Churubusco, IN radar 12 mi
- Rome City, IN radar 14 mi
- Syracuse, IN radar 14 mi
- Topeka, IN radar 15 mi
- Avilla, IN radar 15 mi
- Kendallville, IN radar 16 mi
- Wolcottville, IN radar 16 mi