Lake Michigan Beach, MI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lake Michigan Beach, Berrien County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lake Michigan Beach?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 130 days in the Northern Berrien forecast zone and Berrien County — the most common reported hazard around Lake Michigan Beach, mostly in June and August. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (15 days) and flash flooding (15 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 130 | Jun 2026 | May 21, 2004 · 1 death · $10,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 15 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 15 | Jul 2023 | May 9, 1996 · $5.4 million damage |
| Flooding | 7 | Apr 2026 | Feb 20, 2018 · $8.4 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Jul 2006 | Jun 12, 2001 · $800,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 1 | Dec 2022 | — |
| Blizzards | 1 | Dec 2022 | — |
| High winds | 1 | Mar 2026 | — |
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 Northern Berrien forecast zone and Berrien County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Lake Michigan Beach get?
A normal year brings about 78 inches of snow to Lake Michigan Beach, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Benton Harbor Ap weather station 6.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (29.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 3.8 | 16.6 | 29.5 | 18.8 | 7.7 | 1.1 | 0.0 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Lake Michigan Beach?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI), about 64 miles 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 Michigan Beach | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KGRR Grand Rapids, MI | 64 mi northeast | 5,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KIWX Fort Wayne, IN | 68 mi south-southeast | 5,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 97 mi west-southwest | 9,200 ft | Fair — 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 Lake Michigan Beach
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 38 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lake Michigan Beach, 17 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F3 on May 13, 1980, which passed about 8 miles east of town. The most recent was an EF1 on May 7, 2024, which passed about 19 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 78 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 6 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on August 23, 2006.
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 Michigan Beach'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 Michigan Beach radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lake Michigan Beach, MI?
KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI), about 64 miles northeast. KIWX (Fort Wayne, IN) is 68 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lake Michigan Beach?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lake Michigan Beach the lowest scan from KGRR is about 5,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Lake Michigan Beach 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 Michigan Beach, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Coloma, MI radar 4 mi
- Watervliet, MI radar 6 mi
- Benton Harbor, MI radar 7 mi
- St. Joseph, MI radar 9 mi
- Hartford, MI radar 11 mi
- South Haven, MI radar 15 mi
- Stevensville, MI radar 15 mi
- Bangor, MI radar 15 mi
- Lawrence, MI radar 16 mi
- Berrien Springs, MI radar 18 mi