Edwards AFB, CA Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Edwards AFB, Kern County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

What weather hits Edwards AFB?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 120 days in the Mojave Desert forecast zone and Kern County — the most common reported hazard around Edwards AFB, mostly in January and March. Next come flash flooding (72 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (38 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Flooding120Jan 2026Jan 2, 2011 · $13 million damage
Flash flooding72Nov 2025Sep 3, 1997 · $5.0 million damage
Damaging thunderstorm winds38Mar 2024Sep 23, 2011 · $100,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage31Jun 2022Jul 18, 2015 · 1 death
Debris flows29Nov 2024Dec 26, 2019 · $100,000 damage
Wildfires25Aug 2003Jul 21, 2002 · $3.8 million damage
Excessive heat12Aug 2025—
High winds10Jun 2025May 20, 2002 · $25,000 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 Mojave Desert forecast zone and Kern County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Edwards AFB?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KEYX (Edwards AFB, CA), about 24 miles east-northeast. 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over Edwards AFBView
KEYX
Edwards AFB, CA
24 mi east-northeast1,400 ftExcellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KSOX
Santa Ana Mountains, CA
77 mi south-southeast6,500 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KVTX
Los Angeles, CA
79 mi west-southwest6,800 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation

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 Edwards AFB

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 8 tornadoes within 25 miles of Edwards AFB. Most came in September and June. The strongest was an EF0 on September 1, 2007, which passed about 15 miles west-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on September 1, 2007, which touched down about 21 miles south-southwest of town.

Hail: 8 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on August 15, 2005.

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 Edwards AFB'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.

Edwards AFB radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Edwards AFB, CA?

KEYX (Edwards AFB, CA), about 24 miles east-northeast. KSOX (Santa Ana Mountains, CA) is 77 miles away and also covers the area.

How often does Edwards AFB flood?

Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 120 days in the Mojave Desert forecast zone and Kern 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 Edwards AFB 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 Edwards AFB, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

Radar for nearby towns

All California towns →