Valparaiso, IN Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Valparaiso, Porter County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Valparaiso?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 116 days in the Porter forecast zone and Porter County — the most common reported hazard around Valparaiso, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (63 days) and flooding (28 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 116 | Jun 2026 | Jun 11, 2026 · 2 deaths |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 63 | Jan 2026 | Dec 11, 2010 · $75,000 damage |
| Flooding | 28 | Jun 2026 | Aug 24, 2007 · 2 deaths · $25,000 damage |
| High winds | 26 | Apr 2026 | Oct 26, 2010 · $50,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 21 | May 2021 | Sep 14, 2008 · 2 deaths · $2.0 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 16 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 15 | Aug 2012 | Aug 15, 2007 · $50,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 8 | Jun 2026 | — |
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 Porter forecast zone and Porter County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Valparaiso get?
A normal year brings about 40 inches of snow to Valparaiso, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Valparaiso Wtr Wks weather station 2.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (14.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 2.3 | 9.4 | 14.6 | 5.5 | 6.7 | 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 Valparaiso?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 54 miles west. 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 Valparaiso | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 54 mi west | 4,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KIWX Fort Wayne, IN | 71 mi east | 5,700 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KGRR Grand Rapids, MI | 125 mi northeast | 13,500 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 Valparaiso
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 105 tornadoes within 25 miles of Valparaiso, 23 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and March. The strongest was an F3 on March 12, 1976, which passed about 16 miles south of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on March 19, 2025, which touched down about 21 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 235 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 16 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.50-inch hail on May 7, 2024.
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 Valparaiso'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.
Valparaiso radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Valparaiso, IN?
KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 54 miles west. KIWX (Fort Wayne, IN) is 71 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Valparaiso?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Valparaiso the lowest scan from KLOT is about 4,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Chesterton, IN radar 8 mi
- Westville, IN radar 9 mi
- Portage, IN radar 10 mi
- Porter, IN radar 10 mi
- Burns Harbor, IN radar 10 mi
- Kouts, IN radar 11 mi
- Hobart, IN radar 12 mi
- Winfield, IN radar 12 mi
- Lake Station, IN radar 12 mi
- Ogden Dunes, IN radar 13 mi