Alta, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Alta, Placer County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Alta?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 31 days in the Sierra Nevada of Yuba-Sierra-Nevada-Placer Counties Between 3000-5000 ft Including Interstate 80 forecast zone and Placer County — the most common reported hazard around Alta, mostly in February and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (4 days) and flash flooding (4 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 31 | Apr 2026 | Nov 23, 2024 · 2 deaths |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 4 | Mar 2025 | Nov 15, 2015 · $20,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 4 | May 2019 | Jan 26, 1997 · $150,000 damage |
| Debris flows | 4 | Jun 2023 | Jan 8, 2017 · $6,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | May 2024 | May 4, 2024 · $90,000 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 Sierra Nevada of Yuba-Sierra-Nevada-Placer Counties Between 3000-5000 ft Including Interstate 80 forecast zone and Placer County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Alta get?
A normal year brings about 15 inches of snow to Alta, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Nevada City weather station 11 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (4.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.8 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 4.6 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Alta?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBBX (Beale AFB, CA), about 49 miles west-northwest. 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 Alta | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBBX Beale AFB, CA | 49 mi west-northwest | 3,400 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDAX Sacramento, CA | 68 mi southwest | 5,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KRGX Reno, NV | 80 mi east-northeast | 6,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
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 Alta
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 1 tornado within 25 miles of Alta. The strongest was an EF1 on October 22, 2012, which passed about 16 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 3 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.00-inch hail on February 19, 2024.
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 Alta'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.
Alta radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Alta, CA?
KBBX (Beale AFB, CA), about 49 miles west-northwest. KDAX (Sacramento, CA) is 68 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Alta flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 31 days in the Sierra Nevada of Yuba-Sierra-Nevada-Placer Counties Between 3000-5000 ft Including Interstate 80 forecast zone and Placer County; the deadliest was on November 23, 2024, with 2 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 Alta 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 Alta, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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