Bear Lake, MI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Bear Lake, Kalkaska 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 137 days in the Kalkaska forecast zone and Kalkaska County — the most common reported hazard around Bear Lake, mostly in December and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (30 days) and blizzards (6 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 137 | Mar 2026 | Mar 2, 2012 · $250,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 30 | Aug 2021 | Aug 2, 2015 · $540,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 6 | Dec 2022 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 5 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 4 | Dec 2021 | Dec 16, 2021 · $10,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Feb 2008 | — |
| Excessive heat | 2 | Jun 2018 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 2 | Jun 2005 | — |
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 Kalkaska forecast zone and Kalkaska County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Bear Lake get?
A normal year brings about 126 inches of snow to Bear Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Kalkaska 11Se weather station 10.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (30.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.6 | 14.0 | 30.5 | 28.5 | 25.3 | 15.4 | 9.5 | 0.5 |
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 17 miles 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 | 17 mi northeast | 900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KGRR Grand Rapids, MI | 130 mi south-southwest | 14,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KGRB Green Bay, WI | 157 mi west | 19,500 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 Bear Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 37 tornadoes within 25 miles of Bear Lake, 9 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an EF3 on May 20, 2022, which passed about 18 miles north of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on September 22, 2025, which touched down about 24 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 68 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 4 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.50-inch hail on May 20, 2022.
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 17 miles northeast. KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI) is 130 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 900 ft up.
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
- Kalkaska, MI radar 12 mi
- Grayling, MI radar 12 mi
- Mancelona, MI radar 14 mi
- Bellaire, MI radar 22 mi
- Gaylord, MI radar 24 mi
- Elk Rapids, MI radar 26 mi
- Kingsley, MI radar 30 mi
- Manton, MI radar 31 mi
- East Jordan, MI radar 31 mi
- Traverse City, MI radar 32 mi