Lake City, MI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lake City, Missaukee County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lake City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 78 days in the Missaukee forecast zone and Missaukee County — the most common reported hazard around Lake City, mostly in December and February. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (22 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (6 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 78 | Mar 2026 | Mar 2, 2012 · $150,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 22 | Jul 2024 | Aug 28, 2018 · $140,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 6 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 4 | Feb 2019 | — |
| High winds | 4 | Dec 2021 | Nov 13, 2005 · $35,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Jul 2005 | Jul 24, 2005 · $1,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 3 | Jul 2012 | Jun 13, 2008 · $150,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 2 | Dec 2002 | — |
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 Missaukee forecast zone and Missaukee County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Lake City get?
A normal year brings about 74 inches of snow to Lake City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Lake City Exp Farm weather station 1.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (18.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 | 9.0 | 16.1 | 18.7 | 13.9 | 9.4 | 5.2 | 0.3 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Lake City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KAPX (Gaylord, MI), about 47 miles north-northeast. 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 Lake City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAPX Gaylord, MI | 47 mi north-northeast | 3,200 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KGRR Grand Rapids, MI | 101 mi south | 9,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDTX Detroit, MI | 142 mi southeast | 16,700 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 Lake City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 29 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lake City, 7 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an EF2 on October 18, 2007, which passed about 23 miles north of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on July 18, 2010, which touched down about 13 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 53 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 3 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-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 Lake City'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.
Lake City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lake City, MI?
KAPX (Gaylord, MI), about 47 miles north-northeast. KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI) is 101 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lake City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lake City the lowest scan from KAPX is about 3,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Lake City 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 Lake City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Manton, MI radar 11 mi
- Cadillac, MI radar 12 mi
- Kingsley, MI radar 24 mi
- Kalkaska, MI radar 28 mi
- Harrison, MI radar 29 mi
- Evart, MI radar 30 mi
- Grayling, MI radar 33 mi
- Reed City, MI radar 35 mi
- Traverse City, MI radar 35 mi
- Mancelona, MI radar 40 mi