Cartago, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Cartago, Inyo County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Cartago?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 135 days in the Owens Valley South forecast zone and Inyo County — the most common reported hazard around Cartago, mostly in July and August. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (22 days) and flooding (21 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 135 | Jan 2026 | Aug 15, 2004 · 2 deaths · $20 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 22 | Jul 2025 | Jul 1, 2016 · $75,000 damage |
| Flooding | 21 | Nov 2025 | Jun 2, 2017 · $10 million damage |
| High winds | 2 | May 2026 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | Jun 2016 | Jun 11, 2016 · $1,000 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 Owens Valley South forecast zone and Inyo County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Cartago?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KEYX (Edwards AFB, CA), about 87 miles south-southeast. 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 Cartago | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KEYX Edwards AFB, CA | 87 mi south-southeast | 7,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KHNX San Joaquin Valley, CA | 89 mi west | 8,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KVTX Los Angeles, CA | 146 mi south-southwest | 17,400 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 Cartago
NOAA has no tornado on record within 25 miles of Cartago since 1950.
Hail: 1 report of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.00-inch hail on June 16, 2004.
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 Cartago'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.
Cartago radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Cartago, CA?
KEYX (Edwards AFB, CA), about 87 miles south-southeast. KHNX (San Joaquin Valley, CA) is 89 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Cartago flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 135 days in the Owens Valley South forecast zone and Inyo County; the deadliest was on August 15, 2004, with 2 deaths. 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 Cartago 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 Cartago, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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