Free Soil, MI Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Free SoilWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Free Soil?

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 Free Soil, 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 Free Soil?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI), about 90 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 Free SoilView
KGRR
Grand Rapids, MI		90 mi south-southeast8,200 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KAPX
Gaylord, MI		92 mi northeast8,500 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KGRB
Green Bay, WI		98 mi west-northwest9,300 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 Free Soil

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 12 tornadoes within 25 miles of Free Soil, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and August. The strongest was an F4 on April 3, 1956, which passed about 19 miles north of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on August 28, 2018, which touched down about 22 miles southeast of town.

Hail: 43 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 4 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 Free Soil'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.

Free Soil radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Free Soil, MI?

KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI), about 90 miles south-southeast. KAPX (Gaylord, MI) is 92 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Free Soil?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Free Soil the lowest scan from KGRR is about 8,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.

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

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