Onaway, MI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Onaway, Presque Isle County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Onaway?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 76 days in the Presque Isle forecast zone and Presque Isle County — the most common reported hazard around Onaway, mostly in December and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (23 days) and ice storms & sleet (6 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 76 | Mar 2026 | Mar 2, 2012 · $250,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 23 | Sep 2021 | Jul 18, 2020 · $95,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Mar 2026 | — |
| High winds | 5 | Dec 2021 | Nov 13, 2005 · $12,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 5 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 4 | Mar 2002 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Aug 2016 | Aug 19, 2016 · 1 death |
| 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 Presque Isle forecast zone and Presque Isle County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Onaway get?
A normal year brings about 87 inches of snow to Onaway, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Onaway 4N weather station 3.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (21.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.7 | 7.3 | 21.6 | 21.3 | 17.7 | 11.3 | 6.9 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Onaway?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KAPX (Gaylord, MI), about 39 miles southwest. 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 Onaway | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAPX Gaylord, MI | 39 mi southwest | 2,600 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMQT Marquette, MI | 179 mi west-northwest | 24,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KGRR Grand Rapids, MI | 182 mi south-southwest | 25,000 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 Onaway
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 14 tornadoes within 25 miles of Onaway, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and July. The strongest was an F2 on May 8, 1964, which passed about 17 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on September 1, 2014, which touched down about 17 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 17 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 2 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on May 20, 2022.
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 Onaway'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.
Onaway radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Onaway, MI?
KAPX (Gaylord, MI), about 39 miles southwest. KMQT (Marquette, MI) is 179 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Onaway?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Onaway the lowest scan from KAPX is about 2,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Onaway 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 Onaway, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Rogers City, MI radar 21 mi
- Cheboygan, MI radar 23 mi
- Gaylord, MI radar 32 mi
- Harbor Springs, MI radar 37 mi
- Petoskey, MI radar 38 mi
- Boyne City, MI radar 39 mi
- Alpena, MI radar 43 mi
- St. Ignace, MI radar 44 mi
- East Jordan, MI radar 46 mi
- Charlevoix, MI radar 50 mi