Crystal, MI Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Crystal, Montcalm County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for Crystal What TALON shows

What weather hits Crystal?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 73 days in the Montcalm forecast zone and Montcalm County — the most common reported hazard around Crystal, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (60 days) and high winds (9 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds	73	Jun 2026	May 31, 1998 · $14 million damage
Heavy snow & winter storms	60	Nov 2025	Apr 14, 2018 · $100,000 damage
High winds	9	Feb 2019	Mar 8, 2017 · $10 million damage
Ice storms & sleet	5	Dec 2015	Apr 3, 2003 · $200,000 damage
Flooding	5	May 2020	Apr 17, 2013 · $3.0 million damage
Flash flooding	5	May 2001	May 18, 2000 · $150,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill	1	Apr 1998	Apr 27, 1998 · $100,000 damage
Blizzards	1	Jan 1999	—

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 Montcalm forecast zone and Montcalm County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Crystal?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI), about 40 miles southwest. 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 Crystal	View
KGRR Grand Rapids, MI	40 mi southwest	2,600 ft	Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KDTX Detroit, MI	83 mi east-southeast	7,300 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KAPX Gaylord, MI	114 mi north	11,800 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 Crystal

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 56 tornadoes within 25 miles of Crystal, 20 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F5 on April 3, 1956, which passed about 21 miles west-northwest of town and caused 17 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on March 30, 2025, which touched down about 20 miles west-southwest of town.

Hail: 68 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 3 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.50-inch hail on September 12, 2021.

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 Crystal'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.

Crystal radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Crystal, MI?

KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI), about 40 miles southwest. KDTX (Detroit, MI) is 83 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Crystal?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Crystal the lowest scan from KGRR is about 2,600 ft up.

Is TALON's radar for Crystal 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 Crystal, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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