Napoleon, MI Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Napoleon What TALON shows

What weather hits Napoleon?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 107 days in the Jackson forecast zone and Jackson County — the most common reported hazard around Napoleon, mostly in July and August. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (51 days) and high winds (12 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds	107	May 2026	Aug 12, 2021 · $200,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms	51	Nov 2025	Nov 29, 2011 · $1.0 million damage
High winds	12	Dec 2021	Mar 8, 2017 · $10 million damage
Flooding	6	Apr 2013	Apr 17, 2013 · $3.0 million damage
Ice storms & sleet	5	Feb 2023	Feb 22, 2023 · $1.0 million damage
Flash flooding	5	Jul 2011	Jul 28, 2011 · $550,000 damage
Blizzards	1	Jan 1999	—

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 Jackson forecast zone and Jackson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Napoleon?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDTX (Detroit, MI), about 54 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 Napoleon	View
KDTX Detroit, MI	54 mi northeast	3,900 ft	Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KGRR Grand Rapids, MI	83 mi northwest	7,300 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KIWX Fort Wayne, IN	93 mi southwest	8,700 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 Napoleon

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 78 tornadoes within 25 miles of Napoleon, 28 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on April 11, 1965, which passed about 16 miles south-southeast of town and caused 23 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on May 15, 2025, which touched down about 21 miles north-northeast of town.

Hail: 176 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 15 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on June 9, 2004.

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 Napoleon'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.

Napoleon radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Napoleon, MI?

KDTX (Detroit, MI), about 54 miles northeast. KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI) is 83 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Napoleon?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Napoleon the lowest scan from KDTX is about 3,900 ft up.

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

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