Michigan City, ND Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Michigan City, Nelson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Michigan City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged dangerous cold on 79 days in the Nelson forecast zone and Nelson County — the most common reported hazard around Michigan City, mostly in January and February. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (77 days) and blizzards (66 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 79 | Jan 2026 | Mar 8, 2003 · $5,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 77 | Feb 2026 | Nov 6, 2000 · $2,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 66 | Dec 2025 | Apr 5, 1997 · $6.0 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 63 | Jun 2025 | Jun 10, 2017 · $60,000 damage |
| Flooding | 42 | Aug 2011 | Aug 1, 2001 · $5.0 million damage |
| High winds | 32 | Oct 2024 | Nov 1, 1999 · $100,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 15 | Sep 2019 | Jun 12, 2000 · $14 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Dec 2023 | Apr 4, 1997 · $6.0 million 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 Nelson forecast zone and Nelson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Michigan City get?
A normal year brings about 43 inches of snow to Michigan City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Petersburg 2 N weather station 5.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (10.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2 | 4.9 | 10.9 | 6.3 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 2.2 | 0.6 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Michigan City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMVX (Grand Forks, ND), about 50 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 Michigan City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMVX Grand Forks, ND | 50 mi southeast | 3,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMBX Minot AFB, ND | 129 mi west-northwest | 14,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KBIS Bismarck, ND | 151 mi southwest | 18,300 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 Michigan City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 77 tornadoes within 25 miles of Michigan City, 4 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an EF3 on August 26, 2007, which passed about 18 miles southeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on August 8, 2025, which touched down about 24 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 212 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 20 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on July 20, 1982.
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 Michigan City'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.
Michigan City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Michigan City, ND?
KMVX (Grand Forks, ND), about 50 miles southeast. KMBX (Minot AFB, ND) is 129 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Michigan City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Michigan City the lowest scan from KMVX is about 3,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Michigan City 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 Michigan City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Larimore, ND radar 24 mi
- Park River, ND radar 31 mi
- Devils Lake, ND radar 35 mi
- Grafton, ND radar 42 mi
- Grand Forks, ND radar 48 mi
- Thompson, ND radar 50 mi
- Mayville, ND radar 52 mi
- Langdon, ND radar 52 mi
- New Rockford, ND radar 53 mi
- Cavalier, ND radar 58 mi