Lake of the Pines, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lake of the Pines, Nevada County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lake of the Pines?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 20 days in the Northern Motherlode Between 1000-3000 ft forecast zone and Nevada County — the most common reported hazard around Lake of the Pines, mostly in December and February. Next come debris flows (7 days) and flash flooding (4 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 20 | Apr 2026 | Feb 8, 2017 · $3.6 million damage |
| Debris flows | 7 | Jun 2023 | Jan 10, 2017 · $1.1 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 4 | Aug 2025 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Jul 2012 | Jul 23, 2012 · 1 death |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 2 | Feb 2023 | Feb 21, 2023 · $10,000 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 Northern Motherlode Between 1000-3000 ft forecast zone and Nevada County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Lake of the Pines get?
A normal year brings about 7.2 inches of snow to Lake of the Pines, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Colfax weather station 7.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (2.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 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 Lake of the Pines?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBBX (Beale AFB, CA), about 44 miles northwest. 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 of the Pines | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBBX Beale AFB, CA | 44 mi northwest | 3,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDAX Sacramento, CA | 50 mi southwest | 3,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KRGX Reno, NV | 99 mi east-northeast | 9,400 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 Lake of the Pines
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 9 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lake of the Pines. Most came in March and October. The strongest was an EF1 on December 24, 2015, which passed about 23 miles south of town. The most recent was an EF0 on March 21, 2018, which touched down about 25 miles west of town.
Hail: 5 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.25-inch hail on October 2, 2016.
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 of the Pines'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 of the Pines radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lake of the Pines, CA?
KBBX (Beale AFB, CA), about 44 miles northwest. KDAX (Sacramento, CA) is 50 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Lake of the Pines flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 20 days in the Northern Motherlode Between 1000-3000 ft forecast zone and Nevada 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 of the Pines 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 of the Pines, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Colfax, CA radar 7 mi
- Auburn, CA radar 10 mi
- Grass Valley, CA radar 13 mi
- Nevada City, CA radar 15 mi
- Lincoln, CA radar 17 mi
- Loomis, CA radar 17 mi
- Wheatland, CA radar 18 mi
- Rocklin, CA radar 19 mi
- Roseville, CA radar 23 mi
- Placerville, CA radar 26 mi