Lawrence, MA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lawrence, Essex County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lawrence?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 110 days in the Western Essex forecast zone and Essex County — the most common reported hazard around Lawrence, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (109 days) and flooding (56 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 110 | Sep 2025 | Jul 11, 2006 · $500,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 109 | Feb 2026 | Apr 1, 1997 · $2.5 million damage |
| Flooding | 56 | Aug 2023 | May 13, 2006 · 2 deaths · $7.0 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 37 | Jun 2023 | Sep 6, 2014 · 2 deaths |
| High winds | 32 | Mar 2025 | Feb 17, 2006 · $500,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 23 | Aug 2025 | Mar 22, 2001 · $10 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 4 | Jul 2018 | — |
| Blizzards | 3 | Jan 2022 | Mar 14, 2017 · $30,000 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 Western Essex forecast zone and Essex County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Lawrence get?
A normal year brings about 58 inches of snow to Lawrence, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Haverhill weather station 6.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (16.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 1.4 | 10.8 | 16.2 | 15.6 | 11.9 | 1.8 | 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 Lawrence?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBOX (Boston, MA), about 51 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 Lawrence | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBOX Boston, MA | 51 mi south | 3,700 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KGYX Portland, ME | 94 mi north-northeast | 8,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KENX Albany, NY | 148 mi west | 17,700 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 Lawrence
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 42 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lawrence, 14 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and August. The strongest was an F3 on October 3, 1970, which passed about 20 miles west-southwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on August 22, 2016, which touched down about 18 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 205 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 12 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.50-inch hail on August 28, 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 Lawrence'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.
Lawrence radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lawrence, MA?
KBOX (Boston, MA), about 51 miles south. KGYX (Portland, ME) is 94 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lawrence?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lawrence the lowest scan from KBOX is about 3,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Lawrence 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 Lawrence, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Methuen, MA radar 3 mi
- Haverhill, MA radar 7 mi
- Lowell, MA radar 9 mi
- Woburn, MA radar 15 mi
- Amesbury, MA radar 15 mi
- Peabody, MA radar 15 mi
- Newburyport, MA radar 16 mi
- Melrose, MA radar 18 mi
- Lynn, MA radar 19 mi
- Beverly, MA radar 19 mi