Buck Meadows, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Buck Meadows, Mariposa County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Buck Meadows?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 56 days in the Mariposa-Madera Lower Sierra forecast zone and Mariposa County — the most common reported hazard around Buck Meadows, mostly in January and February. Next come high winds (25 days) and wildfires (20 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 56 | Mar 2025 | Jun 16, 1998 · $100,000 damage |
| High winds | 25 | Mar 2025 | — |
| Wildfires | 20 | Jul 2004 | Jul 24, 2001 · $5.0 million damage |
| Debris flows | 17 | Feb 2025 | Dec 27, 2022 · 2 deaths |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 12 | Jul 2024 | Jan 21, 2012 · 1 death · $5,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 9 | Sep 2023 | Sep 13, 2011 · $100,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 7 | Oct 2021 | Mar 22, 2018 · 2 deaths · $2.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 6 | Oct 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 Mariposa-Madera Lower Sierra forecast zone and Mariposa County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Buck Meadows get?
A normal year brings about 8.2 inches of snow to Buck Meadows, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Groveland Rs weather station 1.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (1.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 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 Buck Meadows?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDAX (Sacramento, CA), about 99 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 Buck Meadows | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDAX Sacramento, CA | 99 mi west-northwest | 9,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KHNX San Joaquin Valley, CA | 106 mi south-southeast | 10,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMUX San Francisco, CA | 110 mi west-southwest | 11,100 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 Buck Meadows
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 2 tornadoes within 25 miles of Buck Meadows. The strongest was an F0 on January 14, 2006, which touched down about 22 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 3 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.25-inch hail on March 21, 2017.
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 Buck Meadows'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.
Buck Meadows radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Buck Meadows, CA?
KDAX (Sacramento, CA), about 99 miles west-northwest. KHNX (San Joaquin Valley, CA) is 106 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Buck Meadows flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 56 days in the Mariposa-Madera Lower Sierra forecast zone and Mariposa 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 Buck Meadows 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 Buck Meadows, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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