Sand Lake, MI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Sand Lake, Iosco County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Sand Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 55 days in the Iosco forecast zone and Iosco County — the most common reported hazard around Sand Lake, mostly in February and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (33 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (9 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 55 | Mar 2026 | Jan 11, 2020 · $14,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 33 | Jul 2025 | Jul 9, 2006 · $25,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 9 | Feb 2026 | — |
| High winds | 6 | Dec 2021 | Dec 16, 2021 · $20,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Feb 2022 | Apr 11, 2013 · $40,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 4 | Feb 2011 | — |
| Flooding | 4 | May 2020 | May 18, 2020 · $1.2 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Apr 2011 | Jul 4, 2003 · $10,000 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 Iosco forecast zone and Iosco County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Sand Lake get?
A normal year brings about 49 inches of snow to Sand Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the E Tawas weather station 8.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (14.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 2.6 | 9.7 | 14.3 | 12.4 | 7.2 | 2.9 | 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 Sand Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KAPX (Gaylord, MI), about 65 miles northwest. 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 Sand Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAPX Gaylord, MI | 65 mi northwest | 5,200 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDTX Detroit, MI | 113 mi south | 11,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KGRR Grand Rapids, MI | 137 mi southwest | 15,600 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 Sand Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 35 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sand Lake, 11 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and August. The strongest was an F3 on March 30, 1976, which passed about 13 miles west of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on August 28, 2018, which touched down about 25 miles west of town.
Hail: 65 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 7 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on June 30, 2004.
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 Sand Lake'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.
Sand Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Sand Lake, MI?
KAPX (Gaylord, MI), about 65 miles northwest. KDTX (Detroit, MI) is 113 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Sand Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Sand Lake the lowest scan from KAPX is about 5,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Sand Lake 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 Sand Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Tawas City, MI radar 8 mi
- East Tawas, MI radar 9 mi
- Standish, MI radar 28 mi
- West Branch, MI radar 28 mi
- Pinconning, MI radar 36 mi
- Pigeon, MI radar 40 mi
- Sebewaing, MI radar 43 mi
- Gladwin, MI radar 47 mi
- Bad Axe, MI radar 49 mi
- Essexville, MI radar 50 mi