South Bend, IN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for South Bend, St. Joseph County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits South Bend?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 136 days in the Eastern St. Joseph forecast zone and St. Joseph County — the most common reported hazard around South Bend, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (15 days) and lightning casualties & damage (12 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 136 | May 2026 | Jul 21, 1998 · $500,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 15 | Feb 2026 | — |
| 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 |
| Flooding | 7 | Aug 2021 | Sep 10, 2016 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 2 | Jan 2024 | — |
| Blizzards | 1 | Dec 2022 | — |
| High winds | 1 | Apr 2026 | Apr 27, 2026 · $10,000 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 Eastern St. Joseph forecast zone and St. Joseph County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does South Bend get?
A normal year brings about 65 inches of snow to South Bend, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the South Bend Michiana Rgnl Ap weather station 3.2 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 South Bend?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KIWX (Fort Wayne, IN), about 37 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 South Bend | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KIWX Fort Wayne, IN | 37 mi southeast | 2,400 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KGRR Grand Rapids, MI | 92 mi north-northeast | 8,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 94 mi west | 8,700 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 South Bend
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 123 tornadoes within 25 miles of South Bend, 36 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and April. The strongest was an F4 on April 11, 1965, which passed about 8 miles south-southeast of town and caused 36 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on March 30, 2025, which passed about 24 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 248 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 17 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 South Bend'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.
South Bend radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to South Bend, IN?
KIWX (Fort Wayne, IN), about 37 miles southeast. KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI) is 92 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in South Bend?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over South Bend the lowest scan from KIWX is about 2,400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for South Bend 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 South Bend, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Mishawaka, IN radar 5 mi
- Osceola, IN radar 10 mi
- New Carlisle, IN radar 12 mi
- North Liberty, IN radar 13 mi
- Elkhart, IN radar 16 mi
- Wakarusa, IN radar 17 mi
- Bremen, IN radar 17 mi
- Walkerton, IN radar 18 mi
- Nappanee, IN radar 21 mi
- Plymouth, IN radar 23 mi