What should you know about South Bend's weather?
- NWS office
- Northern Indiana (IWX)
- Climate
- Hot-summer humid continental
- Time zone
- EST/EDT
- Elevation
- 691 ft
- Coordinates
- 41.68° N, 86.25° W
- Nearest radar
- KIWX · Northern Indiana NEXRAD · 36 mi
- County
- St. Joseph County, IN
- Yearly rain
- 39.2 in
- Warmest month
- July · 72.4°F average
- Coldest month
- January · 24.1°F average
- Severe storm peak
- Jun to Aug
How much rain does South Bend get each month?
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 31.2 | 34.9 | 46.2 | 59.0 | 70.1 | 79.4 | 82.7 | 80.8 | 74.4 | 61.8 | 47.7 | 36.3 |
| Low °F | 17.0 | 19.3 | 27.2 | 37.1 | 48.1 | 58.1 | 62.1 | 60.5 | 53.0 | 42.1 | 31.8 | 23.0 |
| Rain (in) | 2.66 | 2.31 | 2.35 | 3.49 | 4.20 | 4.04 | 3.78 | 4.01 | 3.49 | 3.72 | 2.78 | 2.40 |
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Rain (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31.2 | 17.0 | 2.66 |
| Feb | 34.9 | 19.3 | 2.31 |
| Mar | 46.2 | 27.2 | 2.35 |
| Apr | 59.0 | 37.1 | 3.49 |
| May | 70.1 | 48.1 | 4.20 |
| Jun | 79.4 | 58.1 | 4.04 |
| Jul | 82.7 | 62.1 | 3.78 |
| Aug | 80.8 | 60.5 | 4.01 |
| Sep | 74.4 | 53.0 | 3.49 |
| Oct | 61.8 | 42.1 | 3.72 |
| Nov | 47.7 | 31.8 | 2.78 |
| Dec | 36.3 | 23.0 | 2.40 |
SOUTH BEND MICHIANA RGNL AP, IN US · 4 mi away · NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020
What should you watch on the South Bend radar?
South Bend weather radar is more useful when you read it with the local map in mind. South Bend sits in Saint Joseph County. Compare cells near St. Joseph River corridor, South Bend city center, radar station KIWX, and Saint Joseph County neighborhoods before you trust a broad regional forecast. A small storm cell can still matter here. It might miss one side of Saint Joseph County but hit a commute route, work site, school pickup, or outdoor event. Watch rain that develops near St. Joseph River, where runoff and low clouds can change conditions fast.
Around South Bend, the map is shaped by St. Joseph River corridor. Watch for heavy rain, localized flooding, and flash-flood risk, thunderstorms and outflow winds, and tornado-warned cells. Alerts and forecast zones usually come through WFO IWX and radar station KIWX. Pair the map with NWS watches and warnings when storms strengthen, because radar shows motion while alerts explain the threat. If cells are building near St. Joseph River, check their direction before assuming conditions will stay quiet across town.
Seasonality changes the radar check. In spring, watch for severe thunderstorms, hail, and fast-changing radar returns. Summer is different: track afternoon showers, heat, and outdoor-plan checks. Fall often brings fronts, wind shifts, and changing commute conditions, while winter can bring snow bands, ice, and travel impacts. Check more often on unstable days. That seasonal mix is why local radar checks in South Bend need more context than a statewide forecast.
Local geography changes how the radar should be read. Use the local radar station, waterways, county alerts, and named neighborhoods as anchors instead of vague road references. South Bend city center helps outdoor users judge whether nearby rain is moving toward them or sliding past. South Bend also sits by the Joseph River corridor, so heavy rain and storm motion can matter for river-adjacent roads as much as for open neighborhoods. River corridors, low spots, and nearby road cuts can see different visibility, runoff, and storm timing than the rest of town.
What matters first changes by season. Around South Bend, start with heavy rain, localized flooding, and flash-flood risk, thunderstorms and outflow winds, and tornado-warned cells. In spring, the map can help spot runoff-producing rain. In summer and early fall, radar helps with outflow boundaries and fast-building storms. In winter, check whether snow or ice may affect local travel corridors before heading out.
For daily use, start with the live radar, then compare it with the next few hours. Use KIWX as a radar reference point instead of guessing from a distant city. If storms are moving faster than expected, the 7-day forecast will not show every short-term change; the radar loop is the better tool for timing rain, nearby thunderstorms, and visibility changes near South Bend.
Before leaving, open the South Bend radar and check the direction of nearby cells. Then compare it with the hourly forecast. If storms are moving toward Saint Joseph County, give yourself more time, choose a safer route, or wait until the strongest returns pass. Simple, but useful.
Data sources used for this page include WFO IWX, NWS forecast grid, NEXRAD radar imagery, Open-Meteo forecast data, and OpenStreetMap local geography. No single source tells the whole story. Together, they keep the page grounded in local geography and current forecast data.
What else do people ask about the South Bend radar?
When should I check South Bend weather radar?
Check South Bend weather radar before travel, outdoor work, school pickup, or events when clouds are building near South Bend. Radar is most useful when conditions are changing faster than the daily forecast.
What NWS office covers South Bend?
WFO IWX is the main National Weather Service reference for warnings and forecast context near South Bend. Use local radar together with NWS watches, warnings, and forecast discussions during active weather.
What radar risks matter most near South Bend?
On South Bend radar, the first things to watch are heavy rain, localized flooding, and flash-flood risk, thunderstorms and outflow winds, and tornado-warned cells. Watch how cells move over nearby roads, river crossings, low spots, and open areas because local impacts can appear before broader forecasts change.
How does seasonal weather affect South Bend radar checks?
Seasonal patterns change what to watch. Spring often means severe thunderstorms, hail, and fast-changing radar returns; summer can bring afternoon showers, heat, and outdoor-plan checks; fall brings fronts, wind shifts, and changing commute conditions; winter may bring snow bands, ice, and travel impacts.
Quick facts
- Radar: KIWX (Northern Indiana NEXRAD), a new frame every 5 minutes
- Forecasts and warnings: NWS Northern Indiana (IWX)
- Severe storms peak from June to August (NOAA Storm Events, 1996 to 2025)
- Local time: EST/EDT
- Radar: KIWX, a new frame every 5 minutes
- Warnings: NWS Northern Indiana (IWX)
- Severe storms: June to August
- Local time: EST/EDT
Where does this data come from?
- NOAA NEXRAD radar via Iowa Environmental Mesonet
- National Weather Service, Northern Indiana office
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020: SOUTH BEND MICHIANA RGNL AP, IN US
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1996 to 2025
- USGS Elevation Point Query Service
- GOES-East satellite imagery
- Open-Meteo forecast API
- OpenStreetMap contributors