Ketchikan, AK Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Ketchikan, Ketchikan Gateway County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Ketchikan?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged high winds on 17 days in the Ketchikan Gateway Borough forecast zone and Ketchikan Gateway County — the most common reported hazard around Ketchikan, mostly in January and November. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (5 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| High winds | 17 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 5 | Mar 2026 | — |
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 Ketchikan Gateway Borough forecast zone and Ketchikan Gateway County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Ketchikan?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is PACG (Biorka Island, AK), about 181 miles northwest. 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 Ketchikan | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| PACG Biorka Island, AK | 181 mi northwest | 24,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| PAIH Middleton Island, AK | 614 mi west-northwest | 216,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KATX Seattle/Tacoma, WA | 632 mi southeast | 228,600 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 Ketchikan
NOAA has no tornado on record within 25 miles of Ketchikan since 1950.
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 Ketchikan'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.
Ketchikan radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Ketchikan, AK?
PACG (Biorka Island, AK), about 181 miles northwest. PAIH (Middleton Island, AK) is 614 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Ketchikan?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Ketchikan the lowest scan from PACG is about 24,600 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Ketchikan 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 Ketchikan, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Craig, AK radar 57 mi
- Wrangell, AK radar 59 mi