St. James, MI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for St. James, Charlevoix County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits St. James?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 29 days in the Beaver Island and surrounding islands forecast zone and Charlevoix County — the most common reported hazard around St. James, mostly in August and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (7 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (2 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 29 | Mar 2025 | May 30, 2013 · $75,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 7 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 2 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 1 | Mar 2025 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | Sep 2000 | — |
| Flash flooding | 1 | Jun 2012 | Jun 18, 2012 · $2,000 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 Beaver Island and surrounding islands forecast zone and Charlevoix County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover St. James?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KAPX (Gaylord, MI), about 70 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 St. James | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAPX Gaylord, MI | 70 mi southeast | 5,700 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMQT Marquette, MI | 111 mi west-northwest | 11,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KGRB Green Bay, WI | 152 mi west-southwest | 18,600 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 St. James
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 1 tornado within 25 miles of St. James. The strongest was an F0 on August 14, 1996, which touched down about 20 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 2 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.50-inch hail on June 18, 2012.
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 St. James'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.
St. James radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to St. James, MI?
KAPX (Gaylord, MI), about 70 miles southeast. KMQT (Marquette, MI) is 111 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in St. James?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over St. James the lowest scan from KAPX is about 5,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for St. James 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 St. James, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Charlevoix, MI radar 32 mi
- Harbor Springs, MI radar 34 mi
- Petoskey, MI radar 36 mi
- Manistique, MI radar 38 mi
- St. Ignace, MI radar 40 mi
- Newberry, MI radar 42 mi
- Boyne City, MI radar 44 mi
- East Jordan, MI radar 45 mi
- Cheboygan, MI radar 52 mi
- Bellaire, MI radar 56 mi