Portland, MI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Portland, Ionia County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Portland?
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 Portland, mostly in July and August. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (49 days) and high winds (9 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 80 | Jun 2026 | Aug 24, 2023 · $10 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 49 | Nov 2025 | Apr 14, 2018 · $100,000 damage |
| High winds | 9 | Feb 2019 | Mar 8, 2017 · $10 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Feb 2019 | Feb 5, 2019 · $5.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 6 | May 2020 | Apr 17, 2013 · $7.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 3 | Feb 2011 | — |
| Flash flooding | 3 | Jun 2009 | May 18, 2000 · $150,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | Jul 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 Portland get?
A normal year brings about 37 inches of snow to Portland, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Grand Ledge 1 Nw weather station 10.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (12.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 1.3 | 9.2 | 12.9 | 8.9 | 4.3 | 0.7 | 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 Portland?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI), about 33 miles west. 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 Portland | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KGRR Grand Rapids, MI | 33 mi west | 2,000 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KDTX Detroit, MI | 73 mi east | 6,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KIWX Fort Wayne, IN | 112 mi south-southwest | 11,500 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 Portland
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 78 tornadoes within 25 miles of Portland, 25 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and August. The strongest was an F4 on April 11, 1965, which passed about 13 miles east of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on May 15, 2025, which passed about 16 miles west of town.
Hail: 97 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 9 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 Portland'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.
Portland radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Portland, MI?
KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI), about 33 miles west. KDTX (Detroit, MI) is 73 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Portland?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Portland the lowest scan from KGRR is about 2,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Portland 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 Portland, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Grand Ledge, MI radar 11 mi
- Ionia, MI radar 12 mi
- Fowler, MI radar 12 mi
- Lake Odessa, MI radar 14 mi
- DeWitt, MI radar 16 mi
- Saranac, MI radar 16 mi
- Potterville, MI radar 18 mi
- St. Johns, MI radar 20 mi
- Dimondale, MI radar 20 mi
- Lansing, MI radar 20 mi