Dana Point, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Dana Point, Orange County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Dana Point?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 64 days in the Orange County Coastal forecast zone and Orange County — the most common reported hazard around Dana Point, mostly in February and March. Next come flash flooding (41 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (24 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 64 | Feb 2026 | Dec 19, 2010 · $36 million damage |
| 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 | 23 | Jun 2022 | May 11, 2022 · $60 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 12 | Oct 2023 | — |
| Coastal flooding | 10 | Dec 2023 | Jul 3, 2020 · $40,000 damage |
| Debris flows | 10 | Mar 2023 | Mar 10, 2021 · $50,000 damage |
| High winds | 5 | Mar 2024 | Feb 17, 2017 · $75,000 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 Coastal forecast zone and Orange County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Dana Point?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KSOX (Santa Ana Mountains, CA), about 24 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 Dana Point | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KSOX Santa Ana Mountains, CA | 24 mi north | 1,400 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KNKX San Diego, CA | 54 mi southeast | 3,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KVTX Los Angeles, CA | 107 mi northwest | 10,700 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 Dana Point
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 25 tornadoes within 25 miles of Dana Point, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in February and November. The strongest was an F2 on November 7, 1966, which touched down about 18 miles northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on September 22, 2007, which touched down about 17 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 6 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 Dana Point'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.
Dana Point radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Dana Point, CA?
KSOX (Santa Ana Mountains, CA), about 24 miles north. KNKX (San Diego, CA) is 54 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Dana Point flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 64 days in the Orange County Coastal 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 Dana Point 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 Dana Point, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.