Laguna Beach, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Laguna Beach, Orange County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Laguna Beach?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 64 days in the Orange County Coastal forecast zone and Orange County — the most common reported hazard around Laguna Beach, mostly in February and March. Next come flash flooding (41 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (24 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 64 | Feb 2026 | Dec 19, 2010 · $36 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 41 | Nov 2025 | Feb 23, 1998 · 2 deaths · $30 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 24 | Feb 2026 | Dec 6, 1998 · $450,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 23 | Jun 2022 | May 11, 2022 · $60 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 12 | Oct 2023 | — |
| Coastal flooding | 10 | Dec 2023 | Jul 3, 2020 · $40,000 damage |
| Debris flows | 10 | Mar 2023 | Mar 10, 2021 · $50,000 damage |
| High winds | 5 | Mar 2024 | Feb 17, 2017 · $75,000 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 Orange County Coastal forecast zone and Orange County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Laguna Beach?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KSOX (Santa Ana Mountains, CA), about 20 miles north-northeast. 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 Laguna Beach | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KSOX Santa Ana Mountains, CA | 20 mi north-northeast | 1,100 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KNKX San Diego, CA | 60 mi southeast | 4,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KVTX Los Angeles, CA | 101 mi northwest | 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 Laguna Beach
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 29 tornadoes within 25 miles of Laguna Beach, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in January and February. The strongest was an F2 on November 7, 1966, which touched down about 12 miles northwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on January 19, 2010, which passed about 21 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 6 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 1 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on January 31, 1979.
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 Laguna Beach'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.
Laguna Beach radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Laguna Beach, CA?
KSOX (Santa Ana Mountains, CA), about 20 miles north-northeast. KNKX (San Diego, CA) is 60 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Laguna Beach flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 64 days in the Orange County Coastal forecast zone and Orange 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 Laguna Beach 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 Laguna Beach, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.