Buckhorn, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Buckhorn, Amador County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Buckhorn?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 10 days in the Sierra Nevada of El Dorado and Amador Counties Between 3000-5000 ft Including Highway 50 forecast zone and Amador County — the most common reported hazard around Buckhorn, mostly in January and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (2 days) and flash flooding (1 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 10 | Jan 2026 | Dec 31, 2022 · $50,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 2 | Jan 2023 | Jan 10, 2023 · $2,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 1 | Feb 1999 | — |
| Debris flows | 1 | Oct 2015 | Oct 17, 2015 · $100,000 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 Sierra Nevada of El Dorado and Amador Counties Between 3000-5000 ft Including Highway 50 forecast zone and Amador County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Buckhorn get?
A normal year brings about 3.7 inches of snow to Buckhorn, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the W Pt weather station 5.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (1.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 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 Buckhorn?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDAX (Sacramento, CA), about 62 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 Buckhorn | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDAX Sacramento, CA | 62 mi west | 4,800 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KBBX Beale AFB, CA | 93 mi northwest | 8,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KRGX Reno, NV | 107 mi north-northeast | 10,600 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 Buckhorn
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 3 tornadoes within 25 miles of Buckhorn. Most came in November and October. The strongest was an EF1 on November 23, 2010, which touched down about 24 miles west-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on November 18, 2020, which passed about 25 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 2 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.00-inch hail on March 30, 2013.
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 Buckhorn'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.
Buckhorn radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Buckhorn, CA?
KDAX (Sacramento, CA), about 62 miles west. KBBX (Beale AFB, CA) is 93 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Buckhorn flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 10 days in the Sierra Nevada of El Dorado and Amador Counties Between 3000-5000 ft Including Highway 50 forecast zone and Amador 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 Buckhorn 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 Buckhorn, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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