Fountain, MI Live Doppler Radar

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

What weather hits Fountain?

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 Fountain, mostly in January and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (49 days) and high winds (11 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Heavy snow & winter storms107Jan 2026Apr 14, 2018 · $100,000 damage
Damaging thunderstorm winds49Aug 2024May 31, 1998 · $1.0 million damage
High winds11Dec 2021Mar 8, 2017 · $5.0 million damage
Flash flooding7May 2012Jun 13, 2008 · $3.5 million damage
Flooding5Jul 2019Apr 17, 2013 · $3.0 million damage
Blizzards5Dec 2022—
Ice storms & sleet2Dec 2015Apr 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 Fountain?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI), about 86 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over FountainView
KGRR
Grand Rapids, MI
86 mi south-southeast7,600 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KAPX
Gaylord, MI
93 mi northeast8,600 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KGRB
Green Bay, WI
100 mi west-northwest9,700 ftFair — 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 Fountain

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 14 tornadoes within 25 miles of Fountain, 4 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and August. The strongest was an F4 on April 3, 1956, which passed about 23 miles north of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on August 28, 2018, which touched down about 19 miles east-southeast of town.

Hail: 44 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 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 Fountain'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.

Fountain radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Fountain, MI?

KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI), about 86 miles south-southeast. KAPX (Gaylord, MI) is 93 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Fountain?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Fountain the lowest scan from KGRR is about 7,600 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.

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

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