Lake of the Woods, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lake of the Woods, Kern County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lake of the Woods?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 120 days in the Frazier Mountain Communities forecast zone and Kern County — the most common reported hazard around Lake of the Woods, 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 |
| High winds | 23 | Feb 2025 | May 20, 2002 · $25,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 4 | Jul 2024 | — |
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 Frazier Mountain Communities forecast zone and Kern County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Lake of the Woods get?
A normal year brings about 3.0 inches of snow to Lake of the Woods, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Lebec weather station 7.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (1.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 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 Lake of the Woods?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KVTX (Los Angeles, CA), about 30 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 of the Woods | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KVTX Los Angeles, CA | 30 mi south-southwest | 1,900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KVBX Vandenberg AFB, CA | 79 mi west | 6,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KEYX Edwards AFB, CA | 83 mi east-northeast | 7,300 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 Woods
NOAA has no tornado on record within 25 miles of Lake of the Woods since 1950.
Hail: 4 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.00-inch hail on May 25, 2019.
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 Woods'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 Woods radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lake of the Woods, CA?
KVTX (Los Angeles, CA), about 30 miles south-southwest. KVBX (Vandenberg AFB, CA) is 79 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Lake of the Woods flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 120 days in the Frazier Mountain Communities 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 Lake of the Woods 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 Woods, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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