Sterling, MI Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Sterling, Arenac County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for Sterling What TALON shows

What weather hits Sterling?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 47 days in the Arenac forecast zone and Arenac County — the most common reported hazard around Sterling, mostly in February and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (35 days) and flooding (12 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Heavy snow & winter storms	47	Nov 2025	Jan 11, 2020 · $4,000 damage
Damaging thunderstorm winds	35	Jul 2025	Aug 28, 2018 · $75,000 damage
Flooding	12	May 2020	May 18, 2020 · $4.4 million damage
Extreme cold & wind chill	9	Feb 2026	—
Blizzards	4	Feb 2011	—
High winds	3	Nov 2005	Nov 13, 2005 · $5,000 damage
Ice storms & sleet	3	Feb 2022	Apr 11, 2013 · $50,000 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 Arenac forecast zone and Arenac County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Sterling?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KAPX (Gaylord, MI), about 70 miles north-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 Sterling	View
KAPX Gaylord, MI	70 mi north-northwest	5,600 ft	Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KDTX Detroit, MI	96 mi south-southeast	9,000 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KGRR Grand Rapids, MI	110 mi southwest	11,100 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 Sterling

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 38 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sterling, 11 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F3 on March 30, 1976, which passed about 17 miles north-northeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on June 22, 2024, which passed about 14 miles west-northwest of town.

Hail: 81 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 11 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on August 2, 2015.

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 Sterling'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.

Sterling radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Sterling, MI?

KAPX (Gaylord, MI), about 70 miles north-northwest. KDTX (Detroit, MI) is 96 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Sterling?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Sterling the lowest scan from KAPX is about 5,600 ft up.

Is TALON's radar for Sterling 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 Sterling, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

Radar for nearby towns

All Michigan towns →