Avila Beach, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Avila Beach, San Luis Obispo County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Avila Beach?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 11 days in the Santa Lucia Mountains forecast zone and San Luis Obispo County — the most common reported hazard around Avila Beach, mostly in January and May. Next come high winds (10 days) and flooding (10 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 11 | Oct 2025 | Jan 9, 2023 · 1 death |
| High winds | 10 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 10 | Jan 2023 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 9 | Feb 2026 | Sep 24, 2025 · $2,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 2 | Aug 2025 | Aug 17, 2002 · $290,000 damage |
| Debris flows | 1 | Feb 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 Santa Lucia Mountains forecast zone and San Luis Obispo County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Avila Beach?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KVBX (Vandenberg AFB, CA), about 31 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 Avila Beach | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KVBX Vandenberg AFB, CA | 31 mi southeast | 1,900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KHNX San Joaquin Valley, CA | 98 mi northeast | 9,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KVTX Los Angeles, CA | 103 mi east-southeast | 10,100 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 Avila Beach
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 5 tornadoes within 25 miles of Avila Beach. Most came in February and May. The strongest was an EF1 on February 7, 2024, which passed about 6 miles north of town.
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 Avila Beach'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.
Avila Beach radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Avila Beach, CA?
KVBX (Vandenberg AFB, CA), about 31 miles southeast. KHNX (San Joaquin Valley, CA) is 98 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Avila Beach flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 11 days in the Santa Lucia Mountains forecast zone and San Luis Obispo County; the deadliest was on January 9, 2023, with 1 death. 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 Avila Beach 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 Avila Beach, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.