Buena Vista, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Buena Vista, Amador County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Buena Vista?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 10 days in the Sacramento Metro and Western El Dorado and Amador Counties forecast zone and Amador County — the most common reported hazard around Buena Vista, 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 Sacramento Metro and Western El Dorado and Amador Counties forecast zone and Amador County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Buena Vista?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDAX (Sacramento, CA), about 44 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 Buena Vista | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDAX Sacramento, CA | 44 mi west-northwest | 3,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KBBX Beale AFB, CA | 91 mi north-northwest | 8,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMUX San Francisco, CA | 95 mi southwest | 8,900 ft | Fair — 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 Buena Vista
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 12 tornadoes within 25 miles of Buena Vista. Most came in April and November. The strongest was an EF1 on November 23, 2010, which touched down about 20 miles north of town. The most recent was an EF0 on January 14, 2023, which touched down about 12 miles west of town.
Hail: 1 report 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 Buena Vista'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.
Buena Vista radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Buena Vista, CA?
KDAX (Sacramento, CA), about 44 miles west-northwest. KBBX (Beale AFB, CA) is 91 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Buena Vista flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 10 days in the Sacramento Metro and Western El Dorado and Amador Counties 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 Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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