Benton Heights, MI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Benton Heights, Berrien County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Benton Heights?
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 Heights, 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 Heights get?
A normal year brings about 78 inches of snow to Benton Heights, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Benton Harbor Ap weather station in town. 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 Heights?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KIWX (Fort Wayne, IN), about 64 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 Heights | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KIWX Fort Wayne, IN | 64 mi southeast | 5,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KGRR Grand Rapids, MI | 69 mi northeast | 5,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 93 mi west-southwest | 8,600 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 Heights
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 43 tornadoes within 25 miles of Benton Heights, 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 12 miles northeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on May 7, 2024, which passed about 17 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 85 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 5 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 Heights'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 Heights radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Benton Heights, MI?
KIWX (Fort Wayne, IN), about 64 miles southeast. KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI) is 69 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Benton Heights?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Benton Heights the lowest scan from KIWX is about 5,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Benton Heights 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 Heights, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Benton Harbor, MI radar 2 mi
- St. Joseph, MI radar 4 mi
- Coloma, MI radar 7 mi
- Watervliet, MI radar 9 mi
- Stevensville, MI radar 9 mi
- Berrien Springs, MI radar 13 mi
- Hartford, MI radar 14 mi
- Bridgman, MI radar 15 mi
- Dowagiac, MI radar 18 mi
- Lawrence, MI radar 19 mi