Knik River, AK Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Knik River, Matanuska-Susitna County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for Knik River What TALON shows

What weather hits Knik River?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged high winds on 2 days in the Lower Matanuska Valley forecast zone and Matanuska-Susitna County — the most common reported hazard around Knik River, mostly in February and August. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (1 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
High winds	2	Feb 2026	—
Heavy snow & winter storms	1	Jan 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 Lower Matanuska Valley forecast zone and Matanuska-Susitna County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

How much snow does Knik River get?

A normal year brings about 49 inches of snow to Knik River, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Matanuska Exp Farm weather station 10.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (9.9 in).

Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May
3.8	8.1	9.9	9.2	9.0	7.6	1.4	0.5

Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.

Which radars cover Knik River?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is PAHG (Kenai, AK), about 94 miles west-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 Knik River	View
PAHG Kenai, AK	94 mi west-southwest	8,700 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
PAIH Middleton Island, AK	167 mi southeast	21,600 ft	Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
PAPD Pedro Dome, AK	251 mi north	43,100 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 Knik River

NOAA has no tornado on record within 25 miles of Knik River since 1950.

Hail: 1 report of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.00-inch hail on August 18, 2015.

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 Knik River'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.

Knik River radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Knik River, AK?

PAHG (Kenai, AK), about 94 miles west-southwest. PAIH (Middleton Island, AK) is 167 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Knik River?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Knik River the lowest scan from PAHG is about 8,700 ft up — fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation.

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

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