Circle City, AZ Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Circle City, Maricopa County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Circle City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 376 days in the Northwest Valley forecast zone and Maricopa County — the most common reported hazard around Circle City, mostly in August and July. Next come flash flooding (219 days) and excessive heat (70 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 376 | Nov 2025 | Jul 14, 2001 · 1 death · $5.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 219 | Nov 2025 | Mar 28, 1998 · 3 deaths |
| Excessive heat | 70 | Jun 2024 | Jul 11, 2023 · 9 deaths |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 56 | Oct 2025 | Jul 27, 1999 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 51 | Nov 2025 | Apr 1, 2023 · 2 deaths |
| Dust storms | 7 | Jul 2024 | — |
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 Valley forecast zone and Maricopa County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Circle City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KIWA (Phoenix, AZ), about 64 miles southeast. 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 Circle City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KIWA Phoenix, AZ | 64 mi southeast | 5,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KFSX Flagstaff, AZ | 95 mi northeast | 8,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KYUX Yuma, AZ | 151 mi southwest | 18,300 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 Circle City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 9 tornadoes within 25 miles of Circle City, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in October and September. The strongest was an F2 on October 3, 1968, which touched down about 24 miles south-southeast of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on September 27, 2025, which touched down about 22 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 20 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 1 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on August 15, 2003.
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 Circle City'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.
Circle City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Circle City, AZ?
KIWA (Phoenix, AZ), about 64 miles southeast. KFSX (Flagstaff, AZ) is 95 miles away and also covers the area.
Can radar see a tornado near Circle City?
Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Circle City the lowest scan from KIWA is about 5,000 ft up — good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly.
Is TALON's radar for Circle City 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 Circle City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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