Shafer, MN Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Shafer, Chisago County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for Shafer What TALON shows

What weather hits Shafer?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 75 days in the Chisago forecast zone and Chisago County — the most common reported hazard around Shafer, mostly in March and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (54 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (20 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Heavy snow & winter storms	75	Mar 2026	—
Damaging thunderstorm winds	54	Jun 2025	Jun 24, 2003 · $500,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill	20	Jan 2026	—
Excessive heat	11	Jul 2023	—
High winds	4	Jun 2014	—
Flooding	3	Oct 2005	—
Flash flooding	3	Oct 2005	—
Blizzards	2	Dec 2020	—

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 Chisago forecast zone and Chisago County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

How much snow does Shafer get?

A normal year brings about 43 inches of snow to Shafer, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the St Croix Falls weather station 5.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (10.9 in).

Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May
0.8	6.7	10.9	7.7	9.6	5.7	1.2	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 Shafer?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 54 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 Shafer	View
KMPX Minneapolis, MN	54 mi southwest	4,000 ft	Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KDLH Duluth, MN	103 mi north-northeast	10,100 ft	Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KARX La Crosse, WI	133 mi southeast	15,000 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 Shafer

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 84 tornadoes within 25 miles of Shafer, 13 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and May. The strongest was an F4 on May 6, 1965, which passed about 22 miles southwest of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on August 29, 2024, which passed about 20 miles west-northwest of town.

Hail: 234 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 33 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on June 20, 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 Shafer'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.

Shafer radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Shafer, MN?

KMPX (Minneapolis, MN), about 54 miles southwest. KDLH (Duluth, MN) is 103 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Shafer?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Shafer the lowest scan from KMPX is about 4,000 ft up.

Is TALON's radar for Shafer 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 Shafer, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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