Mentor, OH Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Mentor, Lake County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Mentor?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 120 days in the Lake forecast zone and Lake County — the most common reported hazard around Mentor, mostly in January and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (109 days) and high winds (58 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 120 | Feb 2025 | Mar 4, 2008 · $7.5 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 109 | Jun 2026 | Oct 4, 2000 · $500,000 damage |
| High winds | 58 | Jan 2024 | Sep 14, 2008 · $5.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 21 | Oct 2020 | Jul 27, 2006 · $2.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 21 | Jun 2024 | Jul 28, 2006 · 1 death · $320 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 11 | Dec 2022 | Apr 29, 2012 · $10 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 2 | Jul 1999 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 1 | Jan 2005 | Jan 5, 2005 · $500,000 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 Lake forecast zone and Lake County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Mentor get?
A normal year brings about 114 inches of snow to Mentor, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Chardon weather station 10.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (34.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6 | 9.3 | 25.5 | 34.4 | 23.4 | 16.5 | 4.0 | 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 Mentor?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KCLE (Cleveland, OH), about 33 miles southwest. 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 Mentor | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KCLE Cleveland, OH | 33 mi southwest | 2,100 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KPBZ Pittsburgh, PA | 99 mi southeast | 9,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDTX Detroit, MI | 130 mi west-northwest | 14,400 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 Mentor
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 41 tornadoes within 25 miles of Mentor, 14 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and July. The strongest was an F4 on June 8, 1953, which passed about 24 miles west-southwest of town and caused 17 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on August 12, 2025, which touched down about 20 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 140 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 6 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on May 16, 1965.
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 Mentor'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.
Mentor radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Mentor, OH?
KCLE (Cleveland, OH), about 33 miles southwest. KPBZ (Pittsburgh, PA) is 99 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Mentor?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Mentor the lowest scan from KCLE is about 2,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Mentor 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 Mentor, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.