Sun Lakes, AZ Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Sun LakesWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Sun Lakes?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 376 days in the Southeast Valley/Queen Creek forecast zone and Maricopa County — the most common reported hazard around Sun Lakes, mostly in August and July. Next come flash flooding (219 days) and lightning casualties & damage (56 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
Lightning casualties & damage56Oct 2025Jul 27, 1999 · 1 death
Excessive heat55Jun 2024Jul 9, 2021 · 3 deaths
Flooding51Nov 2025Apr 1, 2023 · 2 deaths
Dust storms23Sep 2025—
High winds1Oct 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 Southeast Valley/Queen Creek forecast zone and Maricopa County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Sun Lakes?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KIWA (Phoenix, AZ), about 13 miles east-northeast. 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 Sun LakesView
KIWA
Phoenix, AZ		13 mi east-northeast700 ftExcellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KFSX
Flagstaff, AZ		102 mi north-northeast9,800 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KEMX
Tucson, AZ		116 mi southeast12,100 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 Sun Lakes

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 51 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sun Lakes, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in September and June. The strongest was an F2 on August 30, 1971, which passed about 11 miles north-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on October 16, 2022, which touched down near town.

Hail: 67 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 3 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 Sun Lakes'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.

Sun Lakes radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Sun Lakes, AZ?

KIWA (Phoenix, AZ), about 13 miles east-northeast. KFSX (Flagstaff, AZ) is 102 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Sun Lakes?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Sun Lakes the lowest scan from KIWA is about 700 ft up — excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground.

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

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