Lakes of the North, MI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lakes of the North, Antrim County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lakes of the North?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 169 days in the Antrim forecast zone and Antrim County — the most common reported hazard around Lakes of the North, mostly in December and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (41 days) and high winds (12 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 169 | Mar 2026 | Mar 2, 2012 · $250,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 41 | Jul 2024 | Aug 2, 2015 · $600,000 damage |
| High winds | 12 | Dec 2021 | Nov 12, 2003 · $20,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 6 | Dec 2022 | Feb 24, 2019 · $3,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Mar 2025 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 3 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Jul 2024 | Jun 18, 2012 · $80,000 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 Antrim forecast zone and Antrim County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Lakes of the North get?
A normal year brings about 149 inches of snow to Lakes of the North, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Gaylord 9Ssw weather station 8.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (38.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | 16.5 | 38.5 | 36.9 | 29.1 | 15.3 | 8.9 | 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 Lakes of the North?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KAPX (Gaylord, MI), about 8 miles east-southeast. 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 Lakes of the North | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAPX Gaylord, MI | 8 mi east-southeast | 400 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KGRR Grand Rapids, MI | 144 mi south-southwest | 17,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KGRB Green Bay, WI | 161 mi west | 20,400 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 Lakes of the North
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 32 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lakes of the North, 8 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and September. The strongest was an EF3 on May 20, 2022, which passed about 3 miles north of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on September 22, 2025, which touched down about 20 miles west of town.
Hail: 71 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 5 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 Lakes of the North'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.
Lakes of the North radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lakes of the North, MI?
KAPX (Gaylord, MI), about 8 miles east-southeast. KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI) is 144 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lakes of the North?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lakes of the North the lowest scan from KAPX is about 400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Lakes of the North 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 Lakes of the North, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Mancelona, MI radar 9 mi
- Gaylord, MI radar 12 mi
- Bellaire, MI radar 16 mi
- East Jordan, MI radar 19 mi
- Kalkaska, MI radar 20 mi
- Boyne City, MI radar 21 mi
- Grayling, MI radar 21 mi
- Elk Rapids, MI radar 26 mi
- Petoskey, MI radar 31 mi
- Charlevoix, MI radar 32 mi