Lake Almanor West, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lake Almanor West, Plumas County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lake Almanor West?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 14 days in the Sierra Nevada of Tehama-Butte-Plumas Counties Above 3000 ft forecast zone and Plumas County — the most common reported hazard around Lake Almanor West, mostly in January and December. Next come debris flows (9 days) and flash flooding (3 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 14 | Jan 2026 | Feb 7, 2017 · $2.0 million damage |
| Debris flows | 9 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 3 | Jul 2014 | — |
| Wildfires | 3 | Sep 2000 | Sep 1, 2000 · $23 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 1 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | Jun 2009 | Jun 3, 2009 · 1 death |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 1 | Jul 2015 | Jul 3, 2015 · $525,000 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 Sierra Nevada of Tehama-Butte-Plumas Counties Above 3000 ft forecast zone and Plumas County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Lake Almanor West get?
A normal year brings about 110 inches of snow to Lake Almanor West, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Chester weather station 5.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (31.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 10.1 | 22.4 | 31.9 | 23.9 | 17.0 | 3.8 | 0.2 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Lake Almanor West?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBBX (Beale AFB, CA), about 56 miles south-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 Lake Almanor West | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBBX Beale AFB, CA | 56 mi south-southwest | 4,100 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KRGX Reno, NV | 98 mi east-southeast | 9,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDAX Sacramento, CA | 122 mi south-southwest | 13,100 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 Lake Almanor West
NOAA has no tornado on record within 25 miles of Lake Almanor West since 1950.
Hail: 1 report of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.00-inch hail on July 29, 2009.
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 Lake Almanor West'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.
Lake Almanor West radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lake Almanor West, CA?
KBBX (Beale AFB, CA), about 56 miles south-southwest. KRGX (Reno, NV) is 98 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Lake Almanor West flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 14 days in the Sierra Nevada of Tehama-Butte-Plumas Counties Above 3000 ft forecast zone and Plumas 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 Lake Almanor West 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 Lake Almanor West, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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