Fair Plain, MI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Fair Plain, Berrien County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Fair Plain?
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 Fair Plain, 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 Fair Plain get?
A normal year brings about 78 inches of snow to Fair Plain, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Benton Harbor Ap weather station 3.2 miles away. 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 Fair Plain?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KIWX (Fort Wayne, IN), about 63 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 Fair Plain | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KIWX Fort Wayne, IN | 63 mi southeast | 4,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KGRR Grand Rapids, MI | 73 mi northeast | 6,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 90 mi west-southwest | 8,200 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 Fair Plain
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 42 tornadoes within 25 miles of Fair Plain, 19 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F3 on May 13, 1980, which passed about 15 miles northeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on May 7, 2024, which passed about 18 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 87 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 6 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 Fair Plain'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.
Fair Plain radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Fair Plain, MI?
KIWX (Fort Wayne, IN), about 63 miles southeast. KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI) is 73 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Fair Plain?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Fair Plain the lowest scan from KIWX is about 4,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Fair Plain 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 Fair Plain, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- St. Joseph, MI radar 2 mi
- Benton Harbor, MI radar 2 mi
- Stevensville, MI radar 6 mi
- Coloma, MI radar 10 mi
- Berrien Springs, MI radar 11 mi
- Bridgman, MI radar 12 mi
- Watervliet, MI radar 12 mi
- Hartford, MI radar 17 mi
- Buchanan, MI radar 18 mi
- Dowagiac, MI radar 19 mi