Bass Lake, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Bass Lake, Madera County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Bass Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 38 days in the Mariposa-Madera Lower Sierra forecast zone and Madera County — the most common reported hazard around Bass Lake, mostly in January and March. Next come high winds (25 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (9 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 38 | Feb 2025 | Apr 5, 2006 · $8.6 million damage |
| High winds | 25 | Mar 2025 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 9 | Mar 2019 | Apr 7, 2001 · $7.8 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 7 | Jan 2014 | Jan 30, 2014 · $3,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 7 | Oct 2003 | Aug 20, 2001 · $4.1 million damage |
| Debris flows | 7 | Mar 2025 | Mar 17, 2025 · $5,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 6 | Oct 2024 | — |
| Flash flooding | 5 | Jan 2023 | Oct 29, 2007 · $25,000 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 Mariposa-Madera Lower Sierra forecast zone and Madera County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Bass Lake get?
A normal year brings about 2.5 inches of snow to Bass Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Coarsegold 1 Sw weather station 9.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually March (1.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 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 Bass Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KHNX (San Joaquin Valley, CA), about 70 miles south. 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 Bass Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KHNX San Joaquin Valley, CA | 70 mi south | 5,700 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMUX San Francisco, CA | 129 mi west | 14,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDAX Sacramento, CA | 141 mi northwest | 16,400 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 Bass Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 5 tornadoes within 25 miles of Bass Lake, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in February and September. The strongest was an EF2 on September 5, 2020, which passed about 12 miles east of town.
Hail: 3 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.50-inch hail on May 27, 2009.
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 Bass Lake'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.
Bass Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Bass Lake, CA?
KHNX (San Joaquin Valley, CA), about 70 miles south. KMUX (San Francisco, CA) is 129 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Bass Lake flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 38 days in the Mariposa-Madera Lower Sierra forecast zone and Madera County. 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 Bass Lake 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 Bass Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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