Sault Ste. Marie, MI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Sault Ste. Marie, Chippewa County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Sault Ste. Marie?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 24 days in the Central Chippewa forecast zone and Chippewa County — the most common reported hazard around Sault Ste. Marie, mostly in August and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (17 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (5 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 24 | Jul 2023 | Jun 11, 2017 · $35,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 17 | Mar 2026 | Dec 29, 2019 · $70,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 5 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 4 | Aug 2025 | Sep 10, 2013 · $125,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 3 | Apr 2023 | — |
| Flooding | 3 | Apr 2020 | Apr 30, 2020 · $20,000 damage |
| High winds | 1 | Dec 2021 | Dec 16, 2021 · $10,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 1 | Dec 2022 | — |
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 Central Chippewa forecast zone and Chippewa County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Sault Ste. Marie get?
A normal year brings about 120 inches of snow to Sault Ste. Marie, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Sault Ste Marie Sanderson Fld weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually December (30.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.7 | 16.0 | 30.4 | 30.3 | 20.7 | 13.0 | 7.6 | 0.4 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Sault Ste. Marie?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KAPX (Gaylord, MI), about 110 miles south. 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 Sault Ste. Marie | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAPX Gaylord, MI | 110 mi south | 11,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMQT Marquette, MI | 151 mi west | 18,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KGRB Green Bay, WI | 227 mi southwest | 36,200 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 Sault Ste. Marie
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 3 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sault Ste. Marie. Most came in August and April. The strongest was an F1 on August 5, 1977, which touched down about 6 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on August 11, 2021, which touched down about 19 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 22 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 August 5, 1989.
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 Sault Ste. Marie'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.
Sault Ste. Marie radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Sault Ste. Marie, MI?
KAPX (Gaylord, MI), about 110 miles south. KMQT (Marquette, MI) is 151 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Sault Ste. Marie?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Sault Ste. Marie the lowest scan from KAPX is about 11,100 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Sault Ste. Marie 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 Sault Ste. Marie, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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