Forbestown, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Forbestown, Butte County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Forbestown?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 44 days in the Sierra Nevada of Tehama-Butte-Plumas Counties Between 1000-3000 ft forecast zone and Butte County — the most common reported hazard around Forbestown, mostly in February and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (8 days) and flash flooding (7 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 44 | Feb 2026 | Feb 12, 2017 · $549 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 8 | Feb 2023 | Sep 18, 2019 · $4.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 7 | Nov 2020 | Feb 9, 2014 · $700,000 damage |
| Debris flows | 5 | Sep 2019 | Jan 9, 2017 · $4.3 million damage |
| Wildfires | 4 | Sep 2000 | Sep 18, 2000 · $1.9 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 4 | Jan 2019 | Jun 5, 2007 · $80,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 1 | Jun 2026 | — |
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 Sierra Nevada of Tehama-Butte-Plumas Counties Between 1000-3000 ft forecast zone and Butte County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Forbestown get?
A normal year brings about 82 inches of snow to Forbestown, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Strawberry Valley weather station 8.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (19.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 3.5 | 15.1 | 17.7 | 19.4 | 17.1 | 8.1 | 0.6 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Forbestown?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBBX (Beale AFB, CA), about 20 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 Forbestown | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBBX Beale AFB, CA | 20 mi west | 1,100 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KDAX Sacramento, CA | 74 mi south-southwest | 6,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KRGX Reno, NV | 97 mi east | 9,200 ft | Fair — 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 Forbestown
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 10 tornadoes within 25 miles of Forbestown, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in December and March. The strongest was an F2 on February 10, 1994, which touched down about 16 miles west of town. The most recent was an EF0 on November 18, 2020, which touched down about 18 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 6 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.00-inch hail on May 30, 2020.
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 Forbestown'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.
Forbestown radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Forbestown, CA?
KBBX (Beale AFB, CA), about 20 miles west. KDAX (Sacramento, CA) is 74 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Forbestown flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 44 days in the Sierra Nevada of Tehama-Butte-Plumas Counties Between 1000-3000 ft forecast zone and Butte 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 Forbestown 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 Forbestown, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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