Palo, MI Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for PaloWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Palo?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 80 days in the Ionia forecast zone and Ionia County — the most common reported hazard around Palo, mostly in July and August. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (49 days) and high winds (9 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds80Jun 2026Aug 24, 2023 · $10 million damage
Heavy snow & winter storms49Nov 2025Apr 14, 2018 · $100,000 damage
High winds9Feb 2019Mar 8, 2017 · $10 million damage
Ice storms & sleet6Feb 2019Feb 5, 2019 · $5.0 million damage
Flooding6May 2020Apr 17, 2013 · $7.0 million damage
Blizzards3Feb 2011—
Flash flooding3Jun 2009May 18, 2000 · $150,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage1Jul 1997—

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

How much snow does Palo get?

A normal year brings about 54 inches of snow to Palo, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Ionia 2Ssw weather station 11.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (15.5 in).

OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
0.53.614.115.511.97.01.60.0

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

Which radars cover Palo?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI), about 32 miles west-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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over PaloView
KGRR
Grand Rapids, MI		32 mi west-southwest2,000 ftExcellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KDTX
Detroit, MI		82 mi east-southeast7,100 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KAPX
Gaylord, MI		125 mi north13,500 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 Palo

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 70 tornadoes within 25 miles of Palo, 21 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and April. The strongest was an F5 on April 3, 1956, which passed about 24 miles northwest of town and caused 17 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on May 15, 2025, which passed about 18 miles southwest of town.

Hail: 60 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 7 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.50-inch hail on April 4, 2023.

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 Palo'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.

Palo radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Palo, MI?

KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI), about 32 miles west-southwest. KDTX (Detroit, MI) is 82 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Palo?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Palo the lowest scan from KGRR is about 2,000 ft up.

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

Radar for nearby towns

All Michigan towns →