Bear Lake, MI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Bear Lake, Manistee County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Bear Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 96 days in the Manistee forecast zone and Manistee County — the most common reported hazard around Bear Lake, mostly in January and February. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (38 days) and high winds (9 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 96 | Mar 2026 | Mar 2, 2012 · $350,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 38 | Aug 2024 | Jun 12, 2008 · $195,000 damage |
| High winds | 9 | Mar 2025 | Nov 12, 2003 · $50,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 8 | Jun 2024 | Jul 20, 2019 · $3.5 million damage |
| Flooding | 7 | Jun 2024 | Oct 16, 2019 · $350,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 5 | Feb 2019 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Feb 2022 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 3 | Jan 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 Manistee forecast zone and Manistee County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Bear Lake get?
A normal year brings about 92 inches of snow to Bear Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Beulah 7Ssw weather station 7.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (26.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 7.7 | 22.9 | 26.8 | 20.2 | 11.2 | 3.5 | 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 Bear Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KAPX (Gaylord, MI), about 78 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 Bear Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAPX Gaylord, MI | 78 mi east-northeast | 6,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KGRB Green Bay, WI | 97 mi west | 9,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KGRR Grand Rapids, MI | 110 mi south-southeast | 11,100 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 Bear Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 6 tornadoes within 25 miles of Bear Lake, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and October. The strongest was an F4 on April 3, 1956, which passed about 3 miles northwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on June 12, 2008, which touched down about 13 miles south of town.
Hail: 33 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 3 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.25-inch hail on October 3, 2006.
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 Bear 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.
Bear Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Bear Lake, MI?
KAPX (Gaylord, MI), about 78 miles east-northeast. KGRB (Green Bay, WI) is 97 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Bear Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Bear Lake the lowest scan from KAPX is about 6,600 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Bear 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 Bear Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Manistee, MI radar 15 mi
- Frankfort, MI radar 16 mi
- Kingsley, MI radar 33 mi
- Scottville, MI radar 33 mi
- Ludington, MI radar 35 mi
- Traverse City, MI radar 35 mi
- Manton, MI radar 37 mi
- Cadillac, MI radar 37 mi
- Baldwin, MI radar 39 mi
- Elk Rapids, MI radar 49 mi