Descanso, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Descanso, San Diego County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Descanso?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged high winds on 200 days in the San Diego County Mountains forecast zone and San Diego County — the most common reported hazard around Descanso, mostly in December and January. Next come flash flooding (148 days) and wildfires (123 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| High winds | 200 | Jan 2026 | Oct 21, 2007 · $10 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 148 | Mar 2025 | Jan 22, 2024 · 2 deaths · $100,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 123 | Jan 2025 | Oct 25, 2003 · 14 deaths · $1.0 billion damage |
| Flooding | 113 | Jan 2026 | Dec 16, 2002 · 3 deaths · $60,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 73 | Feb 2026 | Mar 22, 2007 · 3 deaths |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 56 | Jan 2025 | Apr 1, 1999 · 8 deaths |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 38 | Dec 2023 | Sep 2, 2001 · 1 death |
| Excessive heat | 35 | Aug 2025 | Jul 21, 2006 · 3 deaths |
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 San Diego County Mountains forecast zone and San Diego County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Descanso get?
A normal year brings about 20 inches of snow to Descanso, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Cuyamaca weather station 8.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually March (5.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 3.8 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 3.1 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Descanso?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KNKX (San Diego, CA), about 24 miles west. 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 Descanso | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KNKX San Diego, CA | 24 mi west | 1,400 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KSOX Santa Ana Mountains, CA | 88 mi northwest | 7,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KYUX Yuma, AZ | 118 mi east-southeast | 12,300 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 Descanso
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 4 tornadoes within 25 miles of Descanso. Most came in July and November. The strongest was an F1 on November 10, 2000, which touched down about 22 miles west-northwest of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on April 22, 2019, which touched down about 13 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 12 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on September 11, 2008.
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 Descanso'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.
Descanso radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Descanso, CA?
KNKX (San Diego, CA), about 24 miles west. KSOX (Santa Ana Mountains, CA) is 88 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Descanso?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Descanso the lowest scan from KNKX is about 1,400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Descanso 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 Descanso, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Lemon Grove, CA radar 25 mi
- Chula Vista, CA radar 28 mi
- San Diego, CA radar 30 mi
- National City, CA radar 31 mi
- Escondido, CA radar 32 mi
- Coronado, CA radar 34 mi