Mackinac Island, MI Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Mackinac IslandWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Mackinac Island?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 14 days in the Mackinac Island/Bois Blanc Island forecast zone and Mackinac County — the most common reported hazard around Mackinac Island, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (8 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (5 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds14Jun 2017Jun 7, 2007 · $35,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms8Jan 2026—
Extreme cold & wind chill5Feb 2026—
Flash flooding4Sep 2010Aug 2, 2004 · $40,000 damage
Flooding1Oct 2019Oct 21, 2019 · $150,000 damage
Ice storms & sleet1Mar 2025—
Blizzards1Mar 2026—
Lightning casualties & damage1Mar 2000Mar 9, 2000 · $150,000 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 Mackinac Island/Bois Blanc Island forecast zone and Mackinac County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

How much snow does Mackinac Island get?

A normal year brings about 81 inches of snow to Mackinac Island, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Moran weather station 13.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (21.3 in).

OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
0.47.421.320.414.89.86.80.0

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

Which radars cover Mackinac Island?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KAPX (Gaylord, MI), about 66 miles south. 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 Mackinac IslandView
KAPX
Gaylord, MI		66 mi south5,200 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KMQT
Marquette, MI		147 mi west-northwest17,600 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KGRB
Green Bay, WI		194 mi west-southwest27,800 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 Mackinac Island

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 4 tornadoes within 25 miles of Mackinac Island. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F1 on July 5, 1993, which touched down about 3 miles southeast of town.

Hail: 9 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on June 21, 2025.

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 Mackinac Island'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.

Mackinac Island radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Mackinac Island, MI?

KAPX (Gaylord, MI), about 66 miles south. KMQT (Marquette, MI) is 147 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Mackinac Island?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Mackinac Island the lowest scan from KAPX is about 5,200 ft up.

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

Radar for nearby towns

All Michigan towns →