Ithaca, MI Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for IthacaWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Ithaca?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 53 days in the Gratiot forecast zone and Gratiot County — the most common reported hazard around Ithaca, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (49 days) and high winds (8 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds53Jun 2026May 31, 1998 · $610,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms49Nov 2025Apr 14, 2018 · $100,000 damage
High winds8Feb 2019Mar 8, 2017 · $10 million damage
Flooding6May 2020Apr 17, 2013 · $3.0 million damage
Flash flooding5Jul 2011May 18, 2000 · $150,000 damage
Ice storms & sleet4Dec 2015Feb 16, 2006 · $1.0 million damage
Blizzards1Jan 1999—
Excessive heat1Jun 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 Gratiot forecast zone and Gratiot County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

How much snow does Ithaca get?

A normal year brings about 39 inches of snow to Ithaca, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Alma weather station 7.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (10.7 in).

OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
0.32.78.210.79.95.42.10.0

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

Which radars cover Ithaca?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI), about 55 miles west-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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over IthacaView
KGRR
Grand Rapids, MI		55 mi west-southwest4,100 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KDTX
Detroit, MI		70 mi southeast5,700 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KAPX
Gaylord, MI		112 mi north11,400 ftLimited — 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 Ithaca

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 54 tornadoes within 25 miles of Ithaca, 19 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on April 21, 1967, which passed about 19 miles south of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 15, 2025, which touched down about 21 miles east of town.

Hail: 89 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 5 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on June 12, 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 Ithaca'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.

Ithaca radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Ithaca, MI?

KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI), about 55 miles west-southwest. KDTX (Detroit, MI) is 70 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Ithaca?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Ithaca the lowest scan from KGRR is about 4,100 ft up.

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

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