Columbia, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Columbia, Tuolumne County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Columbia?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 10 days in the Southern Motherlode Between 1000-3000 ft forecast zone and Tuolumne County — the most common reported hazard around Columbia, mostly in March and July. Next come flooding (9 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (6 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 10 | Mar 2023 | Nov 22, 1996 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 9 | Mar 2023 | Mar 4, 2023 · $42 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 6 | Mar 2023 | Mar 21, 2017 · $1.0 million damage |
| Debris flows | 3 | Sep 2017 | Mar 6, 2014 · $50,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 2 | Jul 2013 | Jul 1, 2013 · 1 death |
| Wildfires | 1 | Aug 1996 | — |
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 Southern Motherlode Between 1000-3000 ft forecast zone and Tuolumne County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Columbia?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDAX (Sacramento, CA), about 76 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 Columbia | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDAX Sacramento, CA | 76 mi west-northwest | 6,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMUX San Francisco, CA | 101 mi southwest | 9,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KBBX Beale AFB, CA | 121 mi north-northwest | 12,800 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 Columbia
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 2 tornadoes within 25 miles of Columbia. The strongest was an EF1 on March 11, 2023, which touched down about 9 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 2 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 Columbia'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.
Columbia radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Columbia, CA?
KDAX (Sacramento, CA), about 76 miles west-northwest. KMUX (San Francisco, CA) is 101 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Columbia flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 10 days in the Southern Motherlode Between 1000-3000 ft forecast zone and Tuolumne County; the deadliest was on November 22, 1996, with 1 death. 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 Columbia 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 Columbia, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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