Petoskey, MI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Petoskey, Emmet County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Petoskey?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 123 days in the Emmet forecast zone and Emmet County — the most common reported hazard around Petoskey, mostly in December and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (29 days) and high winds (15 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 123 | Mar 2026 | Mar 2, 2012 · $200,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 29 | Aug 2021 | Jul 18, 2020 · $135,000 damage |
| High winds | 15 | Dec 2021 | Sep 4, 2014 · $65,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 8 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 6 | Dec 2022 | — |
| Flooding | 3 | Sep 2022 | Apr 13, 2020 · $150,000 damage |
| 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 Emmet forecast zone and Emmet County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Petoskey get?
A normal year brings about 124 inches of snow to Petoskey, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Petoskey weather station 1.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (39.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 9.4 | 30.6 | 39.3 | 27.2 | 12.2 | 4.5 | 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 Petoskey?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KAPX (Gaylord, MI), about 35 miles south-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 Petoskey | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAPX Gaylord, MI | 35 mi south-southeast | 2,200 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMQT Marquette, MI | 146 mi northwest | 17,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KGRB Green Bay, WI | 163 mi west-southwest | 20,800 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 Petoskey
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 12 tornadoes within 25 miles of Petoskey, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in September and July. The strongest was an F3 on July 3, 1974, which passed about 20 miles south of town. The most recent was an EF0 on September 1, 2014, which touched down about 24 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 39 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 6 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on July 8, 2016.
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 Petoskey'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.
Petoskey radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Petoskey, MI?
KAPX (Gaylord, MI), about 35 miles south-southeast. KMQT (Marquette, MI) is 146 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Petoskey?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Petoskey the lowest scan from KAPX is about 2,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Petoskey 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 Petoskey, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Harbor Springs, MI radar 5 mi
- Boyne City, MI radar 10 mi
- Charlevoix, MI radar 12 mi
- East Jordan, MI radar 16 mi
- Bellaire, MI radar 29 mi
- Gaylord, MI radar 29 mi
- Mancelona, MI radar 32 mi
- Cheboygan, MI radar 32 mi
- Elk Rapids, MI radar 38 mi
- St. Ignace, MI radar 39 mi