Avondale, AZ Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Avondale, Maricopa County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for AvondaleWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Avondale?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 376 days in the Buckeye/Avondale forecast zone and Maricopa County — the most common reported hazard around Avondale, mostly in August and July. Next come flash flooding (219 days) and excessive heat (96 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds376Nov 2025Jul 14, 2001 · 1 death · $5.0 million damage
Flash flooding219Nov 2025Mar 28, 1998 · 3 deaths
Excessive heat96Jun 2024Jul 23, 2023 · 18 deaths
Lightning casualties & damage56Oct 2025Jul 27, 1999 · 1 death
Flooding51Nov 2025Apr 1, 2023 · 2 deaths
Dust storms10Aug 2025—
High winds2Jun 2024Oct 3, 2022 · $5,000 damage

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 Buckeye/Avondale forecast zone and Maricopa County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Avondale?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KIWA (Phoenix, AZ), about 38 miles east. 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over AvondaleView
KIWA
Phoenix, AZ		38 mi east2,500 ftExcellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KFSX
Flagstaff, AZ		109 mi northeast10,900 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KEMX
Tucson, AZ		139 mi southeast16,100 ftLimited — 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 Avondale

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 31 tornadoes within 25 miles of Avondale, 4 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and September. The strongest was an F2 on August 30, 1971, which passed about 24 miles east of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on April 2, 2025, which touched down about 24 miles west-northwest of town.

Hail: 60 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 1 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on October 5, 2010.

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 Avondale'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.

Avondale radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Avondale, AZ?

KIWA (Phoenix, AZ), about 38 miles east. KFSX (Flagstaff, AZ) is 109 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Avondale?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Avondale the lowest scan from KIWA is about 2,500 ft up — excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground.

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

Radar for nearby towns

All Arizona towns →