Hilmar-Irwin, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Hilmar-Irwin, Merced County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Hilmar-Irwin?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 56 days in the Merced - Madera - Mendota forecast zone and Merced County — the most common reported hazard around Hilmar-Irwin, mostly in January and March. Next come excessive heat (23 days) and lightning casualties & damage (8 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 56 | Mar 2025 | Jan 9, 2023 · $10 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 23 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 8 | May 2016 | May 5, 2016 · $1.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 5 | Feb 2025 | Mar 25, 1998 · $11 million damage |
| Wildfires | 4 | Jun 2003 | Jun 2, 2003 · $15,000 damage |
| Debris flows | 4 | Feb 2024 | — |
| High winds | 3 | Feb 2024 | Feb 4, 2024 · $1,000 damage |
| Dust storms | 2 | Nov 2024 | Nov 11, 2024 · $400,000 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 Merced - Madera - Mendota forecast zone and Merced County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Hilmar-Irwin?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMUX (San Francisco, CA), about 60 miles west-southwest. 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 Hilmar-Irwin | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMUX San Francisco, CA | 60 mi west-southwest | 4,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDAX Sacramento, CA | 88 mi north-northwest | 8,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KHNX San Joaquin Valley, CA | 101 mi southeast | 9,800 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 Hilmar-Irwin
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 23 tornadoes within 25 miles of Hilmar-Irwin, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and March. The strongest was an F2 on April 27, 1953, which touched down about 19 miles north-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on April 1, 2025, which touched down about 23 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 4 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on April 12, 2012.
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 Hilmar-Irwin'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.
Hilmar-Irwin radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Hilmar-Irwin, CA?
KMUX (San Francisco, CA), about 60 miles west-southwest. KDAX (Sacramento, CA) is 88 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Hilmar-Irwin flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 56 days in the Merced - Madera - Mendota forecast zone and Merced 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 Hilmar-Irwin 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 Hilmar-Irwin, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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