Tonopah, AZ Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for TonopahWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Tonopah?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 376 days in the Tonopah Desert forecast zone and Maricopa County — the most common reported hazard around Tonopah, 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
Flooding51Nov 2025Apr 1, 2023 · 2 deaths
Excessive heat45Jun 2024Jun 23, 2024 · 6 deaths
Dust storms6Mar 2025Mar 1, 2025 · 4 deaths · $300,000 damage
High winds1Feb 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 Tonopah Desert forecast zone and Maricopa County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Tonopah?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KIWA (Phoenix, AZ), about 74 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 TonopahView
KIWA
Phoenix, AZ		74 mi east6,200 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KYUX
Yuma, AZ		121 mi southwest12,900 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KFSX
Flagstaff, AZ		124 mi northeast13,500 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 Tonopah

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 4 tornadoes within 25 miles of Tonopah. Most came in July and April. The strongest was an EF1 on July 29, 2010, which touched down about 8 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on September 27, 2025, which touched down about 8 miles northeast of town.

Hail: 4 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.50-inch hail on September 11, 2011.

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 Tonopah'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.

Tonopah radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Tonopah, AZ?

KIWA (Phoenix, AZ), about 74 miles east. KYUX (Yuma, AZ) is 121 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Tonopah?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Tonopah the lowest scan from KIWA is about 6,200 ft up — fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation.

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

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