Chain-O-Lakes, IN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Chain-O-Lakes, St. Joseph County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Chain-O-Lakes?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 136 days in the Western St. Joseph forecast zone and St. Joseph County — the most common reported hazard around Chain-O-Lakes, mostly in July and June. Next come lightning casualties & damage (12 days) and flash flooding (11 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 136 | May 2026 | Jul 21, 1998 · $500,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 12 | Aug 2024 | Jun 22, 2008 · $1.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 11 | Mar 2023 | Aug 15, 2016 · $5.1 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 10 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 7 | Aug 2021 | Sep 10, 2016 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 2 | Jan 2024 | — |
| Blizzards | 1 | Dec 2022 | — |
| High winds | 1 | Mar 2026 | Mar 13, 2026 · $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 Western St. Joseph forecast zone and St. Joseph County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Chain-O-Lakes get?
A normal year brings about 65 inches of snow to Chain-O-Lakes, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the South Bend Michiana Rgnl Ap weather station 3.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (21.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 5.1 | 13.7 | 21.6 | 16.1 | 6.8 | 1.0 | 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 Chain-O-Lakes?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KIWX (Fort Wayne, IN), about 43 miles 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 Chain-O-Lakes | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KIWX Fort Wayne, IN | 43 mi southeast | 2,900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 88 mi west | 7,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KGRR Grand Rapids, MI | 93 mi north-northeast | 8,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
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 Chain-O-Lakes
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 120 tornadoes within 25 miles of Chain-O-Lakes, 36 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F4 on April 11, 1965, which passed about 13 miles southeast of town and caused 36 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on March 30, 2025, which passed about 25 miles south of town.
Hail: 244 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 18 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.50-inch hail on April 17, 1963.
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 Chain-O-Lakes'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.
Chain-O-Lakes radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Chain-O-Lakes, IN?
KIWX (Fort Wayne, IN), about 43 miles southeast. KLOT (Chicago, IL) is 88 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Chain-O-Lakes?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Chain-O-Lakes the lowest scan from KIWX is about 2,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Chain-O-Lakes 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 Chain-O-Lakes, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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