Hillsborough, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Hillsborough, San Mateo County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Hillsborough?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 41 days in the San Francisco Bay Shoreline forecast zone and San Mateo County — the most common reported hazard around Hillsborough, mostly in December and February. Next come high winds (26 days) and flash flooding (14 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 41 | Jan 2026 | Jan 1, 2006 · $5.0 million damage |
| High winds | 26 | Jan 2026 | Oct 13, 2009 · $2.5 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 14 | Jan 2026 | Feb 3, 1997 · 1 death |
| Debris flows | 13 | Jan 2023 | Jan 21, 2012 · $75,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 12 | Dec 2025 | Oct 19, 2004 · $50,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 10 | Mar 2026 | May 17, 2009 · $10,000 damage |
| Coastal flooding | 4 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 2 | Aug 2020 | — |
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 Francisco Bay Shoreline forecast zone and San Mateo County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Hillsborough?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMUX (San Francisco, CA), about 38 miles 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 Hillsborough | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMUX San Francisco, CA | 38 mi southeast | 2,400 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KDAX Sacramento, CA | 75 mi north-northeast | 6,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KBBX Beale AFB, CA | 140 mi north-northeast | 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 Hillsborough
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 9 tornadoes within 25 miles of Hillsborough, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in March and February. The strongest was an F2 on May 5, 1998, which touched down about 22 miles southeast of town. The most recent was an F1 on March 20, 2005, which passed about 7 miles north-northwest of town.
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 Hillsborough'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.
Hillsborough radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Hillsborough, CA?
KMUX (San Francisco, CA), about 38 miles southeast. KDAX (Sacramento, CA) is 75 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Hillsborough flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 41 days in the San Francisco Bay Shoreline forecast zone and San Mateo 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 Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.