Ontonagon, MI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Ontonagon, Ontonagon County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Ontonagon?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 205 days in the Ontonagon forecast zone and Ontonagon County — the most common reported hazard around Ontonagon, mostly in January and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (39 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (36 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 205 | Apr 2026 | Mar 24, 1996 · 1 death |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 39 | Jun 2026 | Jul 21, 2016 · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 36 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 18 | May 2022 | Nov 11, 1998 · $1.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 12 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 5 | Apr 2023 | Apr 13, 2023 · $8.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 5 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 5 | Jul 2025 | Jul 23, 2025 · $1.6 million 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 Ontonagon forecast zone and Ontonagon County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Ontonagon get?
A normal year brings about 178 inches of snow to Ontonagon, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Ontonagon 6 Se weather station 5.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (53.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 | 21.4 | 48.1 | 53.1 | 27.0 | 17.6 | 6.9 | 1.0 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Ontonagon?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMQT (Marquette, MI), about 87 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 Ontonagon | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMQT Marquette, MI | 87 mi east-southeast | 7,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 137 mi west | 15,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KGRB Green Bay, WI | 174 mi south-southeast | 23,100 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 Ontonagon
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 2 tornadoes within 25 miles of Ontonagon. The strongest was an F1 on June 30, 1953, which passed about 7 miles west of town. The most recent was an EF0 on August 19, 2011, which touched down near town.
Hail: 25 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 1 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on March 6, 1992.
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 Ontonagon'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.
Ontonagon radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Ontonagon, MI?
KMQT (Marquette, MI), about 87 miles east-southeast. KDLH (Duluth, MN) is 137 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Ontonagon?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Ontonagon the lowest scan from KMQT is about 7,800 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Ontonagon 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 Ontonagon, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Hancock, MI radar 39 mi
- Houghton, MI radar 39 mi
- Baraga, MI radar 39 mi
- Wakefield, MI radar 40 mi
- L'Anse, MI radar 42 mi
- Bessemer, MI radar 44 mi
- Lake Linden, MI radar 48 mi
- Laurium, MI radar 48 mi
- Ironwood, MI radar 49 mi