Wainwright, AK Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Wainwright, North Slope County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Wainwright?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged blizzard conditions on 9 days in the Northwest Arctic Coast forecast zone and North Slope County — the most common reported hazard around Wainwright, mostly in January and December. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (1 days) and flooding (1 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blizzards | 9 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 1 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 1 | Dec 2022 | — |
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 Northwest Arctic Coast forecast zone and North Slope County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Wainwright?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is PAEC (Nome, AK), about 448 miles south-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 Wainwright | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAEC Nome, AK | 448 mi south-southwest | 120,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| PAPD Pedro Dome, AK | 507 mi southeast | 151,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| PABC Bethel, AK | 685 mi south | 266,000 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 Wainwright
NOAA has no tornado on record within 25 miles of Wainwright 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 Wainwright'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.
Wainwright radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Wainwright, AK?
PAEC (Nome, AK), about 448 miles south-southwest. PAPD (Pedro Dome, AK) is 507 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Wainwright?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Wainwright the lowest scan from PAEC is about 120,900 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Wainwright 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 Wainwright, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.