Gaylord, MI Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Gaylord What TALON shows

What weather hits Gaylord?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 138 days in the Otsego forecast zone and Otsego County — the most common reported hazard around Gaylord, mostly in December and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (41 days) and high winds (10 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Heavy snow & winter storms	138	Mar 2026	Mar 2, 2012 · $215,000 damage
Damaging thunderstorm winds	41	Jul 2024	Aug 28, 2018 · $1.2 million damage
High winds	10	Mar 2025	Dec 16, 2021 · $30,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill	7	Feb 2026	—
Blizzards	6	Dec 2022	Feb 24, 2019 · $5,000 damage
Ice storms & sleet	5	Mar 2026	—
Lightning casualties & damage	4	Jul 2009	Jul 22, 2009 · $500,000 damage
Excessive heat	2	Jun 2018	—

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

How much snow does Gaylord get?

A normal year brings about 140 inches of snow to Gaylord, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Gaylord weather station 1.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (37.4 in).

Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May
2.5	19.2	31.4	37.4	26.4	14.9	8.0	0.5

Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.

Which radars cover Gaylord?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KAPX (Gaylord, MI), about 8 miles south-southwest. 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 Gaylord	View
KAPX Gaylord, MI	8 mi south-southwest	400 ft	Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KGRR Grand Rapids, MI	153 mi south-southwest	18,800 ft	Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KDTX Detroit, MI	171 mi south-southeast	22,500 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 Gaylord

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 25 tornadoes within 25 miles of Gaylord, 4 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and September. The strongest was an EF3 on May 20, 2022, which crossed near town and caused 2 deaths.

Hail: 63 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 4 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on July 8, 2016.

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 Gaylord'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.

Gaylord radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Gaylord, MI?

KAPX (Gaylord, MI), about 8 miles south-southwest. KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI) is 153 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Gaylord?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Gaylord the lowest scan from KAPX is about 400 ft up.

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

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