Sheldon, WI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Sheldon, Rusk County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Sheldon?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 73 days in the Rusk forecast zone and Rusk County — the most common reported hazard around Sheldon, mostly in December and March. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (52 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (19 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 73 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 52 | May 2025 | Jun 11, 2001 · $1.0 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 19 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 8 | May 2016 | Aug 2, 2011 · $50,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 7 | Jul 2011 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 2 | Jan 1998 | — |
| High winds | 2 | Jun 2014 | Jun 16, 2014 · $5,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 1 | Jan 1996 | — |
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 Rusk forecast zone and Rusk County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Sheldon get?
A normal year brings about 42 inches of snow to Sheldon, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Sheldon weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually December (10.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.7 | 3.7 | 10.1 | 9.7 | 8.5 | 6.7 | 2.6 | 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 Sheldon?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 104 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 Sheldon | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 104 mi south | 10,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 121 mi north-northwest | 12,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 131 mi west-southwest | 14,700 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 Sheldon
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 34 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sheldon, 16 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on May 10, 1953, which passed about 14 miles southeast of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF2 on December 15, 2021, which passed about 22 miles south of town.
Hail: 102 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 3 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.50-inch hail on June 18, 2001.
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 Sheldon'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.
Sheldon radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Sheldon, WI?
KARX (La Crosse, WI), about 104 miles south. KDLH (Duluth, MN) is 121 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Sheldon?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Sheldon the lowest scan from KARX is about 10,100 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Sheldon 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 Sheldon, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Ladysmith, WI radar 12 mi
- Cornell, WI radar 14 mi
- Stanley, WI radar 24 mi
- Thorp, WI radar 26 mi
- Cadott, WI radar 27 mi
- Bloomer, WI radar 30 mi
- Medford, WI radar 32 mi
- Chippewa Falls, WI radar 34 mi
- Chetek, WI radar 34 mi
- Lake Hallie, WI radar 37 mi