Shirley, MA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Shirley, Middlesex 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 175 days in the Northwest Middlesex County forecast zone and Middlesex County — the most common reported hazard around Shirley, mostly in July and June. Next come flooding (74 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (72 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 175 | Jun 2026 | Jul 18, 2012 · $350,000 damage |
| Flooding | 74 | Jan 2024 | Mar 14, 2010 · $26 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 72 | Feb 2026 | Jan 14, 2008 · $20,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 55 | Jul 2025 | Jun 27, 2000 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 38 | Jun 2025 | Jul 10, 2010 · $11 million damage |
| High winds | 8 | Feb 2024 | Oct 28, 2006 · $15,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 1 | Dec 2008 | Dec 11, 2008 · $3.0 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 1 | Feb 2015 | — |
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 Northwest Middlesex County forecast zone and Middlesex County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Shirley get?
A normal year brings about 75 inches of snow to Shirley, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Ashburnham weather station 13.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (18.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 3.0 | 15.6 | 16.9 | 18.9 | 16.4 | 4.0 | 0.1 |
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 KBOX (Boston, MA), about 48 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 Shirley | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBOX Boston, MA | 48 mi southeast | 3,400 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KGYX Portland, ME | 118 mi northeast | 12,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KENX Albany, NY | 122 mi west | 13,100 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 56 tornadoes within 25 miles of Shirley, 15 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and August. The strongest was an F4 on June 9, 1953, which passed about 13 miles south-southwest of town and caused 94 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on September 6, 2025, which touched down about 20 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 173 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 12 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.25-inch hail on June 22, 1988.
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, MA?
KBOX (Boston, MA), about 48 miles southeast. KGYX (Portland, ME) is 118 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Shirley?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Shirley the lowest scan from KBOX is about 3,400 ft up.
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
- Leominster, MA radar 5 mi
- Fitchburg, MA radar 9 mi
- Marlborough, MA radar 14 mi
- Gardner, MA radar 17 mi
- Lowell, MA radar 19 mi
- Framingham, MA radar 20 mi
- Worcester, MA radar 20 mi
- Waltham, MA radar 24 mi
- Woburn, MA radar 26 mi
- Newton, MA radar 27 mi