Hartz Lake, IN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Hartz Lake, Starke County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Hartz Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 73 days in the Starke forecast zone and Starke County — the most common reported hazard around Hartz Lake, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (45 days) and high winds (9 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 73 | Jun 2026 | Jun 19, 2021 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 45 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 9 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 6 | Jan 2024 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Dec 2008 | Feb 24, 2007 · 1 death · $25,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 2 | Feb 2011 | — |
| Flooding | 2 | Feb 2018 | Feb 20, 2018 · $1.2 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 1 | Jul 1996 | — |
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 Starke forecast zone and Starke County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Hartz Lake get?
A normal year brings about 28 inches of snow to Hartz Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Knox Wwtp weather station 11.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (9.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 2.0 | 5.7 | 9.7 | 7.5 | 3.4 | 0.2 | 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 Hartz Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KIWX (Fort Wayne, IN), about 43 miles east-northeast. 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 Hartz Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KIWX Fort Wayne, IN | 43 mi east-northeast | 2,900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 87 mi west-northwest | 7,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KIND Indianapolis, IN | 102 mi south | 9,900 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 Hartz Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 84 tornadoes within 25 miles of Hartz Lake, 22 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and April. The strongest was an F4 on April 3, 1974, which passed about 15 miles southeast of town and caused 18 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on April 2, 2025, which passed about 8 miles east-northeast of town.
Hail: 183 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 12 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 19, 2009.
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 Hartz 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.
Hartz Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Hartz Lake, IN?
KIWX (Fort Wayne, IN), about 43 miles east-northeast. KLOT (Chicago, IL) is 87 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Hartz Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Hartz Lake the lowest scan from KIWX is about 2,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Hartz 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 Hartz Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Culver, IN radar 5 mi
- Knox, IN radar 10 mi
- Winamac, IN radar 10 mi
- Argos, IN radar 13 mi
- North Judson, IN radar 15 mi
- Plymouth, IN radar 15 mi
- Rochester, IN radar 18 mi
- Walkerton, IN radar 20 mi
- Bourbon, IN radar 22 mi
- Kingsford Heights, IN radar 23 mi