Tonto Basin, AZ Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Tonto Basin, Gila County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Tonto Basin?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 153 days in the Tonto Basin forecast zone and Gila County — the most common reported hazard around Tonto Basin, mostly in July and August. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (63 days) and excessive heat (31 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 153 | Nov 2025 | Jul 15, 2017 · 10 deaths |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 63 | Sep 2025 | Sep 1, 2019 · $100,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 31 | Jun 2024 | — |
| Flooding | 20 | Oct 2025 | Nov 29, 2019 · 3 deaths · $50,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 9 | Sep 2009 | Aug 12, 2000 · 1 death |
| Wildfires | 7 | Jul 2003 | — |
| High winds | 2 | Apr 2025 | — |
| Debris flows | 2 | Jul 2021 | Jul 27, 2020 · $50,000 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 Tonto Basin forecast zone and Gila County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Tonto Basin?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KIWA (Phoenix, AZ), about 44 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 Tonto Basin | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KIWA Phoenix, AZ | 44 mi south-southwest | 3,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KFSX Flagstaff, AZ | 51 mi north | 3,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KEMX Tucson, AZ | 140 mi south-southeast | 16,300 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 Tonto Basin
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 1 tornado within 25 miles of Tonto Basin. The strongest was an EF0 on July 24, 2020, which touched down about 21 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 8 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 2 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on June 13, 1955.
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 Tonto Basin'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.
Tonto Basin radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Tonto Basin, AZ?
KIWA (Phoenix, AZ), about 44 miles south-southwest. KFSX (Flagstaff, AZ) is 51 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Tonto Basin flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 153 days in the Tonto Basin forecast zone and Gila County; the deadliest was on July 15, 2017, with 10 deaths. TALON's free flash-flood risk layer shows, every 2 minutes, how close the rain that has fallen is to what it takes to flood — turn it on under Layers.
Is TALON's radar for Tonto Basin 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 Tonto Basin, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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