China Lake Acres, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for China Lake Acres, Kern County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits China Lake Acres?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 120 days in the Indian Wells Valley forecast zone and Kern County — the most common reported hazard around China Lake Acres, mostly in January and March. Next come flash flooding (72 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (38 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 120 | Jan 2026 | Jan 2, 2011 · $13 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 72 | Nov 2025 | Sep 3, 1997 · $5.0 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 38 | Mar 2024 | Sep 23, 2011 · $100,000 damage |
| High winds | 32 | Nov 2025 | May 20, 2002 · $25,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 31 | Jun 2022 | Jul 18, 2015 · 1 death |
| Debris flows | 29 | Nov 2024 | Dec 26, 2019 · $100,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 25 | Aug 2003 | Jul 21, 2002 · $3.8 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 12 | Aug 2025 | — |
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 Indian Wells Valley forecast zone and Kern County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover China Lake Acres?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KEYX (Edwards AFB, CA), about 39 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 China Lake Acres | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KEYX Edwards AFB, CA | 39 mi south-southeast | 2,600 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KHNX San Joaquin Valley, CA | 114 mi west-northwest | 11,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KVTX Los Angeles, CA | 117 mi southwest | 12,200 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 China Lake Acres
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 3 tornadoes within 25 miles of China Lake Acres. Most came in March and April. The strongest was an EF0 on April 16, 2019, which touched down about 7 miles east-southeast of town.
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 China Lake Acres'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.
China Lake Acres radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to China Lake Acres, CA?
KEYX (Edwards AFB, CA), about 39 miles south-southeast. KHNX (San Joaquin Valley, CA) is 114 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does China Lake Acres flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 120 days in the Indian Wells Valley forecast zone and Kern 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 China Lake Acres 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 China Lake Acres, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Ridgecrest, CA radar 6 mi
- California City, CA radar 35 mi
- Tehachapi, CA radar 51 mi