Shelby, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Shelby, Polk County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Shelby?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 54 days in the Polk forecast zone and Polk County — the most common reported hazard around Shelby, mostly in February and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (53 days) and high winds (31 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 54 | Jan 2024 | Mar 19, 2006 · $100,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 53 | Aug 2025 | Jul 31, 2014 · $2.6 million damage |
| High winds | 31 | Mar 2026 | Dec 25, 2016 · $1.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 12 | Mar 2025 | Nov 28, 2005 · $25,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 11 | Aug 2017 | May 10, 2016 · $3.1 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 10 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 7 | Nov 2020 | Dec 30, 2006 · $500,000 damage |
| Flooding | 7 | Jun 2024 | May 27, 2019 · $500,000 damage |
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 Polk forecast zone and Polk County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Shelby get?
A normal year brings about 30 inches of snow to Shelby, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Shelby 3Ne weather station 2.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (8.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | 1.6 | 6.6 | 6.3 | 8.6 | 4.5 | 1.5 | 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 Shelby?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 56 miles east. 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 Shelby | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 56 mi east | 4,100 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 80 mi southwest | 6,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KTWX Topeka, KS | 164 mi south-southeast | 21,100 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 Shelby
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 137 tornadoes within 25 miles of Shelby, 23 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F5 on May 5, 1964, which passed about 2 miles northwest of town and caused 4 deaths. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on August 14, 2024, which touched down about 9 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 532 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 74 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on August 16, 2002.
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 Shelby'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.
Shelby radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Shelby, NE?
KOAX (Omaha, NE), about 56 miles east. KUEX (Hastings, NE) is 80 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Shelby?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Shelby the lowest scan from KOAX is about 4,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Shelby 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 Shelby, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Stromsburg, NE radar 10 mi
- David City, NE radar 16 mi
- Columbus, NE radar 17 mi
- York, NE radar 24 mi
- Schuyler, NE radar 26 mi
- Seward, NE radar 26 mi
- Central City, NE radar 30 mi
- Fullerton, NE radar 31 mi
- Henderson, NE radar 35 mi
- Milford, NE radar 35 mi