Houghton Lake, MI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Houghton Lake, Roscommon County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Houghton Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 65 days in the Roscommon forecast zone and Roscommon County — the most common reported hazard around Houghton Lake, mostly in February and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (54 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (8 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 65 | Mar 2026 | Mar 2, 2012 · $100,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 54 | Oct 2022 | Jul 4, 2019 · $70,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 8 | Feb 2026 | — |
| High winds | 7 | Feb 2025 | Oct 27, 2010 · $24,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Mar 2022 | — |
| Blizzards | 4 | Feb 2019 | — |
| Excessive heat | 2 | Jun 2018 | — |
| Flooding | 2 | May 2020 | May 18, 2020 · $240,000 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 Roscommon forecast zone and Roscommon County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Houghton Lake get?
A normal year brings about 75 inches of snow to Houghton Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Houghton Lake 2Nw weather station 1.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (21.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 3.8 | 21.0 | 17.7 | 17.3 | 11.4 | 3.3 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Houghton Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KAPX (Gaylord, MI), about 42 miles north. 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 Houghton Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAPX Gaylord, MI | 42 mi north | 2,800 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KGRR Grand Rapids, MI | 105 mi south-southwest | 10,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDTX Detroit, MI | 128 mi south-southeast | 14,100 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 Houghton Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 32 tornadoes within 25 miles of Houghton Lake, 6 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F2 on March 27, 1991, which passed about 24 miles east of town. The most recent was an EF1 on July 5, 2024, which passed about 22 miles south of town.
Hail: 60 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 2 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on August 2, 2015.
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 Houghton Lake'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.
Houghton Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Houghton Lake, MI?
KAPX (Gaylord, MI), about 42 miles north. KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI) is 105 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Houghton Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Houghton Lake the lowest scan from KAPX is about 2,800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Houghton Lake 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 Houghton Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Harrison, MI radar 20 mi
- Grayling, MI radar 25 mi
- West Branch, MI radar 25 mi
- Gladwin, MI radar 25 mi
- Beaverton, MI radar 32 mi
- Clare, MI radar 33 mi
- Manton, MI radar 33 mi
- Cadillac, MI radar 34 mi
- Kalkaska, MI radar 37 mi
- Evart, MI radar 38 mi