Coto de Caza, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Coto de Caza, Orange County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Coto de Caza?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 64 days in the Orange County Inland forecast zone and Orange County — the most common reported hazard around Coto de Caza, mostly in February and March. Next come excessive heat (42 days) and flash flooding (41 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 64 | Feb 2026 | Dec 19, 2010 · $36 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 42 | Mar 2026 | Jul 8, 2020 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 41 | Nov 2025 | Feb 23, 1998 · 2 deaths · $30 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 24 | Feb 2026 | Dec 6, 1998 · $450,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 21 | Nov 2024 | Oct 9, 2017 · $25 million damage |
| High winds | 13 | Jan 2025 | Oct 15, 2018 · 1 death |
| Debris flows | 10 | Mar 2023 | Mar 10, 2021 · $50,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 4 | Mar 2016 | Mar 3, 2000 · $50,000 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 Orange County Inland forecast zone and Orange County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Coto de Caza?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KSOX (Santa Ana Mountains, CA), about 16 miles north. 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 Coto de Caza | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KSOX Santa Ana Mountains, CA | 16 mi north | 800 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KNKX San Diego, CA | 56 mi southeast | 4,200 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KEYX Edwards AFB, CA | 104 mi north | 10,200 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 Coto de Caza
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 32 tornadoes within 25 miles of Coto de Caza, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in February and November. The strongest was an EF2 on May 22, 2008, which touched down about 25 miles northeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on October 8, 2022, which touched down about 23 miles east-northeast of town.
Hail: 7 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 1 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on January 31, 1979.
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 Coto de Caza'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.
Coto de Caza radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Coto de Caza, CA?
KSOX (Santa Ana Mountains, CA), about 16 miles north. KNKX (San Diego, CA) is 56 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Coto de Caza flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 64 days in the Orange County Inland forecast zone and Orange 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 Coto de Caza 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 Coto de Caza, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.