Mad River, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Mad River, Trinity County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Mad River?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 22 days in the Southern Trinity forecast zone and Trinity County — the most common reported hazard around Mad River, mostly in March and January. Next come wildfires (6 days) and flash flooding (3 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 22 | Mar 2024 | — |
| Wildfires | 6 | Sep 2020 | Sep 1, 2020 · $27 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 3 | Aug 2022 | Oct 21, 2021 · $3.2 million damage |
| Flooding | 3 | Oct 2021 | — |
| High winds | 2 | Nov 2024 | Nov 20, 2024 · $1,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 2 | Jul 2021 | Jul 30, 2021 · $30,000 damage |
| Avalanches | 1 | Mar 2023 | — |
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 Southern Trinity forecast zone and Trinity County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Mad River?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBHX (Eureka, CA), about 42 miles west. 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 Mad River | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBHX Eureka, CA | 42 mi west | 2,800 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KBBX Beale AFB, CA | 118 mi east-southeast | 12,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMAX Medford, OR | 121 mi north-northeast | 12,900 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 Mad River
NOAA has no tornado on record within 25 miles of Mad River since 1950.
Hail: 7 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.50-inch hail on August 22, 2013.
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 Mad River'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.
Mad River radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Mad River, CA?
KBHX (Eureka, CA), about 42 miles west. KBBX (Beale AFB, CA) is 118 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Mad River?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Mad River the lowest scan from KBHX is about 2,800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Mad River 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 Mad River, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Rio Dell, CA radar 33 mi
- Fortuna, CA radar 36 mi
- Blue Lake, CA radar 41 mi
- Ferndale, CA radar 42 mi
- Arcata, CA radar 43 mi
- Eureka, CA radar 43 mi
- Redding, CA radar 60 mi
- Shasta Lake, CA radar 61 mi