Johannesburg, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Johannesburg, Kern County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Johannesburg?
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 Johannesburg, mostly in January and March. Next come flash flooding (72 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (38 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 120 | Jan 2026 | Jan 2, 2011 · $13 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 72 | Nov 2025 | Sep 3, 1997 · $5.0 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 38 | Mar 2024 | Sep 23, 2011 · $100,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 31 | Jun 2022 | Jul 18, 2015 · 1 death |
| Debris flows | 29 | Nov 2024 | Dec 26, 2019 · $100,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 25 | Aug 2003 | Jul 21, 2002 · $3.8 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 12 | Aug 2025 | — |
| High winds | 10 | Jun 2025 | May 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.
How much snow does Johannesburg get?
A normal year brings about 2.2 inches of snow to Johannesburg, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Randsburg weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually December (0.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Johannesburg?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KEYX (Edwards AFB, CA), about 19 miles south-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 Johannesburg | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KEYX Edwards AFB, CA | 19 mi south-southeast | 1,100 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KSOX Santa Ana Mountains, CA | 107 mi south | 10,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KVTX Los Angeles, CA | 110 mi southwest | 11,000 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 Johannesburg
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 3 tornadoes within 25 miles of Johannesburg. Most came in March and April. The strongest was an EF0 on April 16, 2019, which touched down about 17 miles north of town.
Hail: 1 report 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 Johannesburg'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.
Johannesburg radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Johannesburg, CA?
KEYX (Edwards AFB, CA), about 19 miles south-southeast. KSOX (Santa Ana Mountains, CA) is 107 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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