Cupertino, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Cupertino, Santa Clara County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Cupertino?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 61 days in the Santa Clara Valley Including San Jose forecast zone and Santa Clara County — the most common reported hazard around Cupertino, mostly in January and February. Next come excessive heat (16 days) and debris flows (14 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 61 | Jan 2026 | Dec 31, 2022 · 1 death |
| Excessive heat | 16 | Mar 2026 | Jul 7, 2024 · 8 deaths |
| Debris flows | 14 | Jan 2021 | — |
| Flash flooding | 13 | Feb 2017 | Jan 4, 2017 · $10,000 damage |
| High winds | 9 | Feb 2024 | Oct 27, 2009 · $500,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 7 | Dec 2025 | Dec 13, 2022 · 4 deaths |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 5 | Dec 2025 | Feb 4, 2024 · $10 damage |
| Wildfires | 3 | Jul 2020 | — |
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 Santa Clara Valley Including San Jose forecast zone and Santa Clara County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Cupertino?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMUX (San Francisco, CA), about 14 miles 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 Cupertino | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMUX San Francisco, CA | 14 mi southeast | 700 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KDAX Sacramento, CA | 84 mi north-northeast | 7,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KHNX San Joaquin Valley, CA | 150 mi east-southeast | 18,300 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 Cupertino
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 10 tornadoes within 25 miles of Cupertino, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in January and December. The strongest was an F2 on May 5, 1998, which touched down about 4 miles north-northeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on December 14, 2024, which touched down about 19 miles south of town.
Hail: 1 report of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.00-inch hail on January 20, 2010.
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 Cupertino'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.
Cupertino radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Cupertino, CA?
KMUX (San Francisco, CA), about 14 miles southeast. KDAX (Sacramento, CA) is 84 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Cupertino flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 61 days in the Santa Clara Valley Including San Jose forecast zone and Santa Clara County; the deadliest was on December 31, 2022, 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 Cupertino 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 Cupertino, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.