Shell Lake, WI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Shell Lake, Washburn County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Shell Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 86 days in the Washburn forecast zone and Washburn County — the most common reported hazard around Shell Lake, mostly in December and March. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (53 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (16 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 86 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 53 | Apr 2026 | Jul 19, 2011 · $30,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 16 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 5 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 4 | Jul 2025 | Jul 4, 2025 · $200,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 2 | Jul 2016 | — |
| Flooding | 2 | Apr 2023 | Apr 12, 2023 · $30,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | Jul 2002 | Jul 21, 2002 · 1 death |
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 Washburn forecast zone and Washburn County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Shell Lake get?
A normal year brings about 56 inches of snow to Shell Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Spooner Ag Res Stn weather station 6.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (13.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 | 6.2 | 13.2 | 11.3 | 9.6 | 9.4 | 4.8 | 0.4 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Shell Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 78 miles north. 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 Shell Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDLH Duluth, MN | 78 mi north | 6,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMPX Minneapolis, MN | 101 mi southwest | 9,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KARX La Crosse, WI | 136 mi south-southeast | 15,500 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 Shell Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 46 tornadoes within 25 miles of Shell Lake, 11 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F3 on June 18, 2001, which passed about 8 miles north-northwest of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on July 28, 2019, which passed about 24 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 214 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 35 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.50-inch hail on July 23, 1965.
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 Shell Lake'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.
Shell Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Shell Lake, WI?
KDLH (Duluth, MN), about 78 miles north. KMPX (Minneapolis, MN) is 101 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Shell Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Shell Lake the lowest scan from KDLH is about 6,600 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Shell Lake 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 Shell Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Spooner, WI radar 7 mi
- Cumberland, WI radar 14 mi
- Rice Lake, WI radar 19 mi
- Barron, WI radar 23 mi
- Cameron, WI radar 24 mi
- Turtle Lake, WI radar 26 mi
- Frederic, WI radar 27 mi
- Hayward, WI radar 28 mi
- Luck, WI radar 29 mi
- Chetek, WI radar 31 mi