Benton, IN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Benton, Elkhart County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Benton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 150 days in the Elkhart forecast zone and Elkhart County — the most common reported hazard around Benton, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (57 days) and high winds (14 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 150 | Jun 2026 | Jun 5, 2005 · 1 death · $30,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 57 | Dec 2025 | Dec 22, 2022 · 1 death |
| High winds | 14 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 7 | Jul 2024 | Sep 8, 2005 · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 6 | Jan 2024 | — |
| Flash flooding | 6 | Sep 2019 | Jul 12, 2006 · $1.5 million damage |
| Flooding | 6 | Jul 2025 | Feb 20, 2018 · $1.2 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Feb 2019 | Feb 24, 2007 · $25,000 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 Elkhart forecast zone and Elkhart County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Benton get?
A normal year brings about 45 inches of snow to Benton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Goshen 3Sw weather station 6.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (13.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 3.4 | 9.9 | 13.8 | 11.4 | 5.4 | 1.2 | 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 Benton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KIWX (Fort Wayne, IN), about 11 miles south-southeast. 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 Benton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KIWX Fort Wayne, IN | 11 mi south-southeast | 600 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KGRR Grand Rapids, MI | 96 mi north | 9,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 120 mi west | 12,700 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 Benton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 104 tornadoes within 25 miles of Benton, 27 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and August. The strongest was an F4 on April 11, 1965, which passed about 12 miles north-northwest of town and caused 36 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on April 2, 2025, which passed about 19 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 204 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 16 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on May 6, 2004.
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 Benton'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.
Benton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Benton, IN?
KIWX (Fort Wayne, IN), about 11 miles south-southeast. KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI) is 96 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Benton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Benton the lowest scan from KIWX is about 600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Benton 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 Benton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Goshen, IN radar 6 mi
- Syracuse, IN radar 6 mi
- Milford, IN radar 8 mi
- Ligonier, IN radar 9 mi
- Topeka, IN radar 11 mi
- Middlebury, IN radar 12 mi
- Nappanee, IN radar 13 mi
- Wakarusa, IN radar 13 mi
- Bristol, IN radar 15 mi
- Elkhart, IN radar 16 mi