East Tawas, MI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for East Tawas, Iosco County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits East Tawas?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 55 days in the Iosco forecast zone and Iosco County — the most common reported hazard around East Tawas, mostly in February and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (33 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (9 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 55 | Mar 2026 | Jan 11, 2020 · $14,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 33 | Jul 2025 | Jul 9, 2006 · $25,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 9 | Feb 2026 | — |
| High winds | 6 | Dec 2021 | Dec 16, 2021 · $20,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Feb 2022 | Apr 11, 2013 · $40,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 4 | Feb 2011 | — |
| Flooding | 4 | May 2020 | May 18, 2020 · $1.2 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Apr 2011 | Jul 4, 2003 · $10,000 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 Iosco forecast zone and Iosco County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does East Tawas get?
A normal year brings about 49 inches of snow to East Tawas, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the E Tawas weather station 1.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (14.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 2.6 | 9.7 | 14.3 | 12.4 | 7.2 | 2.9 | 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 East Tawas?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KAPX (Gaylord, MI), about 74 miles northwest. 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 East Tawas | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAPX Gaylord, MI | 74 mi northwest | 6,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDTX Detroit, MI | 110 mi south | 11,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KGRR Grand Rapids, MI | 141 mi southwest | 16,500 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 East Tawas
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 27 tornadoes within 25 miles of East Tawas, 8 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F3 on March 30, 1976, which passed about 22 miles west of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on August 28, 2018, which touched down about 21 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 50 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 5 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on June 30, 2004.
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 East Tawas'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.
East Tawas radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to East Tawas, MI?
KAPX (Gaylord, MI), about 74 miles northwest. KDTX (Detroit, MI) is 110 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in East Tawas?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over East Tawas the lowest scan from KAPX is about 6,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for East Tawas 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 East Tawas, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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