Shepherd, MI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Shepherd, Isabella County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Shepherd?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 62 days in the Isabella forecast zone and Isabella County — the most common reported hazard around Shepherd, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (49 days) and flooding (9 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 62 | May 2026 | May 31, 1998 · $250,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 49 | Nov 2025 | Dec 11, 2010 · $250,000 damage |
| Flooding | 9 | May 2022 | Jun 23, 2017 · $91 million damage |
| High winds | 9 | Dec 2021 | Mar 8, 2017 · $10 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 7 | Jun 2011 | Aug 11, 2010 · $4.0 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Feb 2019 | Feb 5, 2019 · $1.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 2 | Feb 2019 | — |
| Excessive heat | 1 | Jun 2018 | — |
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 Isabella forecast zone and Isabella County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Shepherd get?
A normal year brings about 39 inches of snow to Shepherd, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Alma weather station 9.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (10.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 2.7 | 8.2 | 10.7 | 9.9 | 5.4 | 2.1 | 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 Shepherd?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI), about 61 miles 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 Shepherd | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KGRR Grand Rapids, MI | 61 mi southwest | 4,700 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDTX Detroit, MI | 84 mi southeast | 7,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KAPX Gaylord, MI | 96 mi north | 9,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
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 Shepherd
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 48 tornadoes within 25 miles of Shepherd, 13 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F2 on May 12, 1956, which passed about 17 miles south-southeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on November 10, 2024, which touched down about 21 miles south of town.
Hail: 118 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 7 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on July 4, 2012.
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 Shepherd'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.
Shepherd radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Shepherd, MI?
KGRR (Grand Rapids, MI), about 61 miles southwest. KDTX (Detroit, MI) is 84 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Shepherd?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Shepherd the lowest scan from KGRR is about 4,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Shepherd 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 Shepherd, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Mount Pleasant, MI radar 7 mi
- St. Louis, MI radar 9 mi
- Alma, MI radar 10 mi
- Breckenridge, MI radar 14 mi
- Ithaca, MI radar 17 mi
- Coleman, MI radar 17 mi
- Lake Isabella, MI radar 18 mi
- Edmore, MI radar 19 mi
- Clare, MI radar 21 mi
- Midland, MI radar 24 mi