Southwest Harbor, ME Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Southwest Harbor, Hancock County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Southwest Harbor?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged high winds on 114 days in the Coastal Hancock forecast zone and Hancock County — the most common reported hazard around Southwest Harbor, mostly in December and October. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (108 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (25 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| High winds | 114 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 108 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 25 | Jun 2024 | — |
| Coastal flooding | 23 | Mar 2024 | — |
| Blizzards | 19 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 18 | Feb 2023 | — |
| Flooding | 18 | Dec 2023 | Sep 7, 2008 · $450,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 13 | Jun 2025 | — |
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 Coastal Hancock forecast zone and Hancock County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Southwest Harbor?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGYX (Portland, ME), about 99 miles west-southwest. 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 Southwest Harbor | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KGYX Portland, ME | 99 mi west-southwest | 9,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KCBW Caribou, ME | 124 mi north-northeast | 13,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KBOX Boston, MA | 214 mi southwest | 32,800 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 Southwest Harbor
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 1 tornado within 25 miles of Southwest Harbor. The strongest was an F1 on August 14, 1977, which touched down about 17 miles west of town.
Hail: 8 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on June 30, 2021.
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 Southwest Harbor'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.
Southwest Harbor radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Southwest Harbor, ME?
KGYX (Portland, ME), about 99 miles west-southwest. KCBW (Caribou, ME) is 124 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Southwest Harbor?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Southwest Harbor the lowest scan from KGYX is about 9,500 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Southwest Harbor 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 Southwest Harbor, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Ellsworth, ME radar 22 mi
- Belfast, ME radar 36 mi
- Brewer, ME radar 40 mi
- Rockland, ME radar 41 mi
- Bangor, ME radar 44 mi
- Old Town, ME radar 51 mi