El Centro, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for El Centro, Imperial County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits El Centro?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 48 days in the Imperial Valley forecast zone and Imperial County — the most common reported hazard around El Centro, mostly in August and September. Next come excessive heat (47 days) and flash flooding (46 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 48 | Sep 2025 | Sep 15, 2007 · $4.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 47 | Jun 2024 | — |
| Flash flooding | 46 | Sep 2025 | Aug 31, 2021 · 2 deaths · $5,000 damage |
| High winds | 13 | Oct 2024 | Aug 20, 2023 · $50,000 damage |
| Flooding | 8 | Jan 2024 | Jan 22, 2024 · $4.0 million damage |
| Dust storms | 7 | Aug 2025 | Feb 15, 2022 · $5,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 2 | Mar 2022 | Jun 28, 2020 · 1 death |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | Oct 2005 | — |
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 Imperial Valley forecast zone and Imperial County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover El Centro?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KYUX (Yuma, AZ), about 56 miles east-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 El Centro | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KYUX Yuma, AZ | 56 mi east-southeast | 4,200 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KNKX San Diego, CA | 87 mi west | 7,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KSOX Santa Ana Mountains, CA | 139 mi west-northwest | 16,200 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 El Centro
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 3 tornadoes within 25 miles of El Centro. Most came in May and August. The strongest was an F1 on August 29, 1993, which touched down about 4 miles north of town. The most recent was an F0 on September 24, 1997, which touched down about 6 miles west of town.
Hail: 6 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on August 27, 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 El Centro'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.
El Centro radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to El Centro, CA?
KYUX (Yuma, AZ), about 56 miles east-southeast. KNKX (San Diego, CA) is 87 miles away and also covers the area.
Can radar see a tornado near El Centro?
Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over El Centro the lowest scan from KYUX is about 4,200 ft up — good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly.
Is TALON's radar for El Centro 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 El Centro, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Imperial, CA radar 4 mi
- Calexico, CA radar 8 mi
- Holtville, CA radar 11 mi
- Brawley, CA radar 13 mi
- Westmorland, CA radar 18 mi
- Calipatria, CA radar 27 mi