Custer, MI Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Custer What TALON shows

What weather hits Custer?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 107 days in the Mason forecast zone and Mason County — the most common reported hazard around Custer, mostly in January and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (49 days) and high winds (11 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Heavy snow & winter storms	107	Jan 2026	Apr 14, 2018 · $100,000 damage
Damaging thunderstorm winds	49	Aug 2024	May 31, 1998 · $1.0 million damage
High winds	11	Dec 2021	Mar 8, 2017 · $5.0 million damage
Flash flooding	7	May 2012	Jun 13, 2008 · $3.5 million damage
Flooding	5	Jul 2019	Apr 17, 2013 · $3.0 million damage
Blizzards	5	Dec 2022	—
Ice storms & sleet	2	Dec 2015	Apr 3, 2003 · $200,000 damage

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

Which radars cover Custer?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI), about 81 miles south-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 Custer	View
KGRR Grand Rapids, MI	81 mi south-southeast	7,000 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KAPX Gaylord, MI	99 mi northeast	9,500 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KGRB Green Bay, WI	101 mi west-northwest	9,800 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 Custer

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 13 tornadoes within 25 miles of Custer, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and April. The strongest was an F2 on September 26, 1951, which touched down about 21 miles southeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on August 28, 2018, which touched down about 18 miles east of town.

Hail: 42 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 2 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.50-inch hail on September 7, 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 Custer'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.

Custer radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Custer, MI?

KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI), about 81 miles south-southeast. KAPX (Gaylord, MI) is 99 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Custer?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Custer the lowest scan from KGRR is about 7,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.

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

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