Petersham, MA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Petersham, Worcester County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Petersham?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 199 days in the Northern Worcester forecast zone and Worcester County — the most common reported hazard around Petersham, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (130 days) and flooding (76 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 199 | Jun 2026 | May 31, 1998 · 2 deaths · $15,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 130 | Feb 2026 | Dec 7, 1996 · $1.4 million damage |
| Flooding | 76 | Jun 2024 | Mar 29, 2010 · $4.0 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 65 | Jun 2025 | Jun 2, 2023 · $800,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 44 | May 2025 | Jun 13, 1998 · $570,000 damage |
| High winds | 32 | May 2020 | Feb 17, 2006 · $100,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Dec 2008 | Dec 11, 2008 · $20 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 3 | Jul 2010 | — |
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 Northern Worcester forecast zone and Worcester County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Petersham get?
A normal year brings about 60 inches of snow to Petersham, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Barre Falls Dam weather station 9.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (14.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 2.9 | 13.1 | 13.6 | 14.9 | 12.2 | 3.5 | 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 Petersham?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBOX (Boston, MA), about 65 miles southeast. 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 Petersham | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBOX Boston, MA | 65 mi southeast | 5,100 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KENX Albany, NY | 96 mi west | 9,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KOKX Upton, NY | 118 mi south-southwest | 12,300 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 Petersham
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 55 tornadoes within 25 miles of Petersham, 16 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and August. The strongest was an F4 on June 9, 1953, which passed about 2 miles south-southeast of town and caused 94 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on September 6, 2025, which touched down about 18 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 143 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 5 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on October 3, 1970.
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 Petersham'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.
Petersham radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Petersham, MA?
KBOX (Boston, MA), about 65 miles southeast. KENX (Albany, NY) is 96 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Petersham?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Petersham the lowest scan from KBOX is about 5,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Petersham 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 Petersham, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Gardner, MA radar 12 mi
- Amherst Town, MA radar 19 mi
- Fitchburg, MA radar 20 mi
- Leominster, MA radar 21 mi
- Palmer Town, MA radar 22 mi
- Greenfield, MA radar 23 mi
- Worcester, MA radar 25 mi
- Northampton, MA radar 27 mi
- Chicopee, MA radar 29 mi
- Easthampton, MA radar 29 mi