Mercer, WI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Mercer, Iron County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Mercer?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 233 days in the Iron forecast zone and Iron County — the most common reported hazard around Mercer, mostly in December and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (37 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (16 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 233 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 37 | Jun 2025 | May 18, 2022 · $15,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 16 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 9 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 6 | Jun 2018 | Jul 11, 2016 · 1 death · $1,000 damage |
| Flooding | 3 | May 2013 | Apr 12, 2002 · $1.3 million damage |
| Blizzards | 3 | Nov 2025 | — |
| Excessive heat | 3 | Jul 2016 | — |
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 Iron forecast zone and Iron County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Mercer get?
A normal year brings about 75 inches of snow to Mercer, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Rest Lake weather station 8.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (16.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.9 | 9.1 | 15.3 | 16.7 | 12.7 | 10.9 | 7.2 | 0.3 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Mercer?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 113 miles west-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 Mercer | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 113 mi west-northwest | 11,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMQT Marquette, MI | 122 mi east-northeast | 13,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KGRB Green Bay, WI | 148 mi southeast | 17,800 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 Mercer
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 15 tornadoes within 25 miles of Mercer, 6 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F3 on June 8, 1985, which passed about 22 miles south-southwest of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on September 25, 2020, which touched down about 23 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 73 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 8 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on July 28, 2006.
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 Mercer'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.
Mercer radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Mercer, WI?
KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 113 miles west-northwest. KMQT (Marquette, MI) is 122 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Mercer?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Mercer the lowest scan from KDLH is about 11,600 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Mercer 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 Mercer, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Tomahawk, WI radar 50 mi
- Washburn, WI radar 54 mi