Central Lake, MI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Central Lake, Antrim County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Central Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 169 days in the Antrim forecast zone and Antrim County — the most common reported hazard around Central Lake, mostly in December and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (41 days) and high winds (12 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 169 | Mar 2026 | Mar 2, 2012 · $250,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 41 | Jul 2024 | Aug 2, 2015 · $600,000 damage |
| High winds | 12 | Dec 2021 | Nov 12, 2003 · $20,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 6 | Dec 2022 | Feb 24, 2019 · $3,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Mar 2025 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 3 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Jul 2024 | Jun 18, 2012 · $80,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 2 | Jun 2018 | — |
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 Antrim forecast zone and Antrim County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Central Lake get?
A normal year brings about 122 inches of snow to Central Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the E Jordan weather station 8.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (37.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.7 | 10.0 | 35.4 | 37.4 | 23.1 | 11.0 | 4.6 | 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 Central Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KAPX (Gaylord, MI), about 29 miles east-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 Central Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAPX Gaylord, MI | 29 mi east-southeast | 1,700 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KGRB Green Bay, WI | 145 mi west-southwest | 17,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMQT Marquette, MI | 149 mi northwest | 18,100 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 Central Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 26 tornadoes within 25 miles of Central Lake, 8 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and July. The strongest was an F4 on April 3, 1956, which passed about 18 miles west-southwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on September 22, 2025, which touched down about 7 miles south of town.
Hail: 63 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 5 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on July 8, 2016.
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 Central 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.
Central Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Central Lake, MI?
KAPX (Gaylord, MI), about 29 miles east-southeast. KGRB (Green Bay, WI) is 145 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Central Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Central Lake the lowest scan from KAPX is about 1,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Central 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 Central Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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