Bear Valley, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Bear Valley, Alpine County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Bear Valley?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged debris flows on 9 days in the Sierra Nevada of Calaveras-Tuolumne-Southern Alpine Counties Above 5000 ft forecast zone and Alpine County — the most common reported hazard around Bear Valley, mostly in July and August. Next come flooding (2 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (1 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debris flows | 9 | Aug 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 2 | Jul 2021 | Dec 31, 2005 · $1.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 1 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 1 | Aug 2000 | — |
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 Calaveras-Tuolumne-Southern Alpine Counties Above 5000 ft forecast zone and Alpine County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Bear Valley?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDAX (Sacramento, CA), about 88 miles west. 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 Bear Valley | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDAX Sacramento, CA | 88 mi west | 7,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KRGX Reno, NV | 94 mi north-northeast | 8,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KBBX Beale AFB, CA | 111 mi northwest | 11,200 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 Bear Valley
NOAA has no tornado on record within 25 miles of Bear Valley since 1950.
Hail: 9 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on July 20, 2015.
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 Bear Valley'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.
Bear Valley radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Bear Valley, CA?
KDAX (Sacramento, CA), about 88 miles west. KRGX (Reno, NV) is 94 miles away and also covers the area.
Can radar see a tornado near Bear Valley?
Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Bear Valley the lowest scan from KDAX is about 7,900 ft up — fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation.
Is TALON's radar for Bear Valley 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 Bear Valley, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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