Benton Harbor, MI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Benton Harbor, Berrien County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Benton Harbor?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 130 days in the Northern Berrien forecast zone and Berrien County — the most common reported hazard around Benton Harbor, mostly in June and August. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (15 days) and flash flooding (15 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 130 | Jun 2026 | May 21, 2004 · 1 death · $10,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 15 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 15 | Jul 2023 | May 9, 1996 · $5.4 million damage |
| Flooding | 7 | Apr 2026 | Feb 20, 2018 · $8.4 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Jul 2006 | Jun 12, 2001 · $800,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 1 | Dec 2022 | — |
| Blizzards | 1 | Dec 2022 | — |
| High winds | 1 | Mar 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 Northern Berrien forecast zone and Berrien County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Benton Harbor get?
A normal year brings about 78 inches of snow to Benton Harbor, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Benton Harbor Ap weather station 1.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (29.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 3.8 | 16.6 | 29.5 | 18.8 | 7.7 | 1.1 | 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 Benton Harbor?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KIWX (Fort Wayne, IN), about 65 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 Benton Harbor | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KIWX Fort Wayne, IN | 65 mi southeast | 5,100 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KGRR Grand Rapids, MI | 71 mi northeast | 5,800 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 91 mi west-southwest | 8,400 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 Benton Harbor
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 43 tornadoes within 25 miles of Benton Harbor, 20 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F3 on May 13, 1980, which passed about 14 miles east-northeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on May 7, 2024, which passed about 19 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 84 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 6 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.25-inch hail on July 2, 1997.
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 Benton Harbor'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.
Benton Harbor radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Benton Harbor, MI?
KIWX (Fort Wayne, IN), about 65 miles southeast. KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI) is 71 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Benton Harbor?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Benton Harbor the lowest scan from KIWX is about 5,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Benton Harbor 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 Benton Harbor, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- St. Joseph, MI radar 2 mi
- Stevensville, MI radar 8 mi
- Coloma, MI radar 9 mi
- Watervliet, MI radar 11 mi
- Berrien Springs, MI radar 13 mi
- Bridgman, MI radar 14 mi
- Hartford, MI radar 16 mi
- Dowagiac, MI radar 19 mi
- Buchanan, MI radar 20 mi
- Lawrence, MI radar 21 mi