Pentwater, MI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Pentwater, Oceana County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Pentwater?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 109 days in the Oceana forecast zone and Oceana County — the most common reported hazard around Pentwater, mostly in January and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (36 days) and high winds (11 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 109 | Jan 2026 | Apr 14, 2018 · $100,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 36 | Aug 2024 | May 31, 1998 · $4.0 million damage |
| High winds | 11 | Dec 2021 | Mar 8, 2017 · $10 million damage |
| Blizzards | 6 | Dec 2022 | — |
| Flash flooding | 5 | May 2001 | May 15, 2001 · $700,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Feb 2019 | Feb 5, 2019 · $1.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 3 | Apr 2013 | Apr 17, 2013 · $3.0 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 1 | May 1997 | May 16, 1997 · $2.0 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 Oceana forecast zone and Oceana County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Pentwater get?
A normal year brings about 79 inches of snow to Pentwater, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Hart 3 Wsw weather station 7.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (26.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 5.4 | 19.6 | 26.4 | 20.0 | 5.9 | 1.1 | 0.0 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Pentwater?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI), about 76 miles 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 Pentwater | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KGRR Grand Rapids, MI | 76 mi southeast | 6,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KGRB Green Bay, WI | 97 mi west-northwest | 9,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KAPX Gaylord, MI | 115 mi northeast | 11,900 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 Pentwater
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 10 tornadoes within 25 miles of Pentwater, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and August. The strongest was an F2 on April 12, 1972, which touched down about 9 miles east-northeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on June 12, 2008, which touched down about 23 miles north of town.
Hail: 33 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 1 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.50-inch hail on September 7, 2021.
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 Pentwater'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.
Pentwater radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Pentwater, MI?
KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI), about 76 miles southeast. KGRB (Green Bay, WI) is 97 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Pentwater?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Pentwater the lowest scan from KGRR is about 6,300 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Pentwater 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 Pentwater, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Hart, MI radar 7 mi
- Shelby, MI radar 12 mi
- Ludington, MI radar 12 mi
- Scottville, MI radar 14 mi
- Montague, MI radar 26 mi
- Whitehall, MI radar 27 mi
- Lakewood Club, MI radar 29 mi
- Baldwin, MI radar 30 mi
- Fremont, MI radar 32 mi
- Manistee, MI radar 33 mi