Grand Isle, ME Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Grand Isle, Aroostook County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Grand Isle?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 158 days in the Northwest Aroostook forecast zone and Aroostook County — the most common reported hazard around Grand Isle, mostly in February and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (138 days) and flooding (61 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 158 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 138 | May 2026 | Jul 17, 2025 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 61 | Mar 2026 | Apr 15, 2014 · 1 death · $80,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 55 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 36 | Jun 2023 | Aug 10, 2003 · $150,000 damage |
| High winds | 28 | Apr 2025 | — |
| Blizzards | 7 | Jan 2018 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Apr 2026 | — |
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 Aroostook forecast zone and Aroostook County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Grand Isle get?
A normal year brings about 97 inches of snow to Grand Isle, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Van Buren 2 weather station 14.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (24.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 | 7.4 | 20.7 | 24.5 | 20.0 | 17.5 | 5.7 | 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 Grand Isle?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KCBW (Caribou, ME), about 89 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 Grand Isle | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KCBW Caribou, ME | 89 mi south | 8,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KGYX Portland, ME | 257 mi south-southwest | 44,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KCXX Burlington, VT | 309 mi southwest | 61,900 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 Grand Isle
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 8 tornadoes within 25 miles of Grand Isle, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and August. The strongest was an F2 on August 11, 1954, which touched down about 21 miles south-southeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on June 8, 2011, which passed about 22 miles south of town.
Hail: 29 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 2 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.50-inch hail on August 4, 2007.
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 Grand Isle'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.
Grand Isle radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Grand Isle, ME?
KCBW (Caribou, ME), about 89 miles south. KGYX (Portland, ME) is 257 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Grand Isle?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Grand Isle the lowest scan from KCBW is about 8,100 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Grand Isle 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 Grand Isle, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Caribou, ME radar 34 mi
- Presque Isle, ME radar 43 mi