Big Bear Lake, CA Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Big Bear Lake, San Bernardino County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for Big Bear LakeWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Big Bear Lake?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 340 days in the San Bernardino County Mountains forecast zone and San Bernardino County — the most common reported hazard around Big Bear Lake, mostly in August and July. Next come high winds (148 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (129 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Flash flooding340Feb 2026Aug 26, 2003 · 3 deaths · $50,000 damage
High winds148Jan 2026Dec 25, 2003 · $500,000 damage
Damaging thunderstorm winds129Feb 2026Jun 3, 2009 · 1 death · $20,000 damage
Wildfires128Jun 2025Oct 25, 2003 · 4 deaths · $696 million damage
Heavy snow & winter storms121Jan 2025Mar 1, 2023 · 1 death · $500,000 damage
Flooding106Feb 2026Dec 19, 2010 · 1 death
Lightning casualties & damage58Sep 2024Jun 3, 2009 · 1 death · $1,000 damage
Debris flows47Aug 2025Dec 25, 2003 · 14 deaths · $5.0 million 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 San Bernardino County Mountains forecast zone and San Bernardino County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

How much snow does Big Bear Lake get?

A normal year brings about 59 inches of snow to Big Bear Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Big Bear Lake weather station 1.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (14.3 in).

OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
1.23.411.013.414.311.73.00.6

Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.

Which radars cover Big Bear Lake?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KSOX (Santa Ana Mountains, CA), about 52 miles 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over Big Bear LakeView
KSOX
Santa Ana Mountains, CA		52 mi southwest3,700 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KEYX
Edwards AFB, CA		70 mi north-northwest5,700 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KNKX
San Diego, CA		92 mi south8,500 ftFair — 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 Big Bear Lake

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 3 tornadoes within 25 miles of Big Bear Lake. Most came in August and December. The strongest was an EF1 on August 4, 2008, which touched down about 19 miles east-northeast of town.

Hail: 7 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on March 5, 2000.

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 Big Bear 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.

Big Bear Lake radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Big Bear Lake, CA?

KSOX (Santa Ana Mountains, CA), about 52 miles southwest. KEYX (Edwards AFB, CA) is 70 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Big Bear Lake?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Big Bear Lake the lowest scan from KSOX is about 3,700 ft up.

Is TALON's radar for Big Bear 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 Big Bear Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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