Los Altos, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Los Altos, Santa Clara County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Los Altos?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 61 days in the San Francisco Bay Shoreline forecast zone and Santa Clara County — the most common reported hazard around Los Altos, mostly in January and February. Next come high winds (26 days) and debris flows (16 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 61 | Jan 2026 | Dec 31, 2022 · 1 death |
| High winds | 26 | Jan 2026 | Oct 13, 2009 · $2.5 million damage |
| Debris flows | 16 | Jan 2021 | Jan 21, 2012 · $75,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 13 | Feb 2017 | Jan 4, 2017 · $10,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 10 | Mar 2026 | May 17, 2009 · $10,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 5 | Dec 2025 | Feb 4, 2024 · $10 damage |
| Coastal flooding | 4 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Aug 2020 | — |
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 San Francisco Bay Shoreline forecast zone and Santa Clara County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Los Altos?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMUX (San Francisco, CA), about 18 miles 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 Los Altos | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMUX San Francisco, CA | 18 mi southeast | 1,000 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KDAX Sacramento, CA | 82 mi north-northeast | 7,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KBBX Beale AFB, CA | 149 mi north | 18,000 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 Los Altos
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 9 tornadoes within 25 miles of Los Altos, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in January and December. The strongest was an F2 on May 5, 1998, which touched down about 4 miles east of town. The most recent was an EF1 on December 14, 2024, which touched down about 22 miles south of town.
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 Los Altos'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.
Los Altos radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Los Altos, CA?
KMUX (San Francisco, CA), about 18 miles southeast. KDAX (Sacramento, CA) is 82 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Los Altos flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 61 days in the San Francisco Bay Shoreline forecast zone and Santa Clara County; the deadliest was on December 31, 2022, with 1 death. 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 Los Altos 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 Los Altos, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.