Otter Lake, IN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Otter Lake, Steuben County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Otter Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 88 days in the Steuben forecast zone and Steuben County — the most common reported hazard around Otter Lake, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (37 days) and high winds (11 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 88 | Jun 2026 | Jul 21, 1998 · $250,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 37 | Nov 2025 | Jan 1, 2008 · 2 deaths |
| High winds | 11 | Nov 2019 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 7 | Feb 2023 | — |
| Flooding | 5 | May 2009 | Mar 10, 2009 · $500,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 5 | Jan 2024 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 4 | Mar 2025 | Jul 21, 1998 · $312,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 3 | Jul 1997 | Aug 20, 1996 · $40,000 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 Steuben forecast zone and Steuben County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Otter Lake get?
A normal year brings about 39 inches of snow to Otter Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Angola weather station 8.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (11.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 2.3 | 8.1 | 11.8 | 10.3 | 5.3 | 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 Otter Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KIWX (Fort Wayne, IN), about 33 miles southwest. 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 Otter Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KIWX Fort Wayne, IN | 33 mi southwest | 2,100 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KGRR Grand Rapids, MI | 89 mi north-northwest | 8,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDTX Detroit, MI | 114 mi northeast | 11,700 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 Otter Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 77 tornadoes within 25 miles of Otter Lake, 20 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on April 11, 1965, which passed about 19 miles west-northwest of town and caused 36 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on April 2, 2025, which passed about 6 miles north of town.
Hail: 154 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 13 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 Otter 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.
Otter Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Otter Lake, IN?
KIWX (Fort Wayne, IN), about 33 miles southwest. KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI) is 89 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Otter Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Otter Lake the lowest scan from KIWX is about 2,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Otter 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 Otter Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Angola, IN radar 8 mi
- Ashley, IN radar 10 mi
- Wolcottville, IN radar 13 mi
- Lagrange, IN radar 13 mi
- Fremont, IN radar 14 mi
- Rome City, IN radar 14 mi
- Kendallville, IN radar 14 mi
- Hamilton, IN radar 15 mi
- Waterloo, IN radar 15 mi
- Avilla, IN radar 19 mi