Shirley, AR Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Shirley, Van Buren County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Shirley?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 106 days in the Southeast Van Buren County forecast zone and Van Buren County — the most common reported hazard around Shirley, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (25 days) and lightning casualties & damage (6 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 106 | May 2026 | Feb 11, 2009 · $500,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 25 | Jun 2025 | Mar 18, 2008 · $1.0 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 6 | Aug 2011 | May 13, 2008 · $20,000 damage |
| Flooding | 6 | Feb 2023 | May 1, 2011 · $1.8 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 3 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 1 | Jan 2023 | — |
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 Southeast Van Buren County forecast zone and Van Buren County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Shirley get?
A normal year brings about 2.8 inches of snow to Shirley, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Clinton weather station 8.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (1.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 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 Shirley?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLZK (Little Rock, AR), about 56 miles south. 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 Shirley | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLZK Little Rock, AR | 56 mi south | 4,100 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KSRX Fort Smith, AR | 118 mi west-southwest | 12,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KSGF Springfield, MO | 125 mi north-northwest | 13,600 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 Shirley
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 104 tornadoes within 25 miles of Shirley, 52 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and November. The strongest was an EF4 on February 5, 2008, which crossed near town and caused 13 deaths. The most recent was an EF4 on March 14, 2025, which passed about 17 miles north of town.
Hail: 221 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 22 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 25, 2023.
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 Shirley'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.
Shirley radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Shirley, AR?
KLZK (Little Rock, AR), about 56 miles south. KSRX (Fort Smith, AR) is 118 miles away and also covers the area.
Can radar see a tornado near Shirley?
Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Shirley the lowest scan from KLZK is about 4,100 ft up — good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly.
Is TALON's radar for Shirley 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 Shirley, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Fairfield Bay, AR radar 4 mi
- Clinton, AR radar 9 mi
- Heber Springs, AR radar 19 mi
- Mountain View, AR radar 19 mi
- Marshall, AR radar 26 mi
- Greenbrier, AR radar 29 mi
- Wooster, AR radar 32 mi
- Calico Rock, AR radar 35 mi
- Melbourne, AR radar 38 mi
- Southside, AR radar 39 mi