Mountain Center, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Mountain Center, Riverside County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Mountain Center?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 153 days in the Riverside County Mountains forecast zone and Riverside County — the most common reported hazard around Mountain Center, mostly in August and September. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (103 days) and wildfires (100 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 153 | Sep 2025 | Mar 5, 2000 · 1 death · $300,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 103 | Feb 2026 | Jul 23, 2019 · $8.0 million damage |
| Wildfires | 100 | Oct 2024 | Oct 26, 2006 · 5 deaths · $10 million damage |
| Flooding | 83 | Dec 2025 | Mar 8, 2000 · 2 deaths · $60,000 damage |
| High winds | 73 | Dec 2022 | Feb 3, 2005 · $1.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 72 | Mar 2024 | Mar 1, 2023 · $400,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 29 | Jan 2024 | Jul 30, 2003 · 1 death |
| Excessive heat | 24 | Aug 2025 | Jun 14, 2021 · 1 death |
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 Riverside County Mountains forecast zone and Riverside County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Mountain Center get?
A normal year brings about 31 inches of snow to Mountain Center, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Idyllwild Fire Dept weather station 3.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (9.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 2.3 | 4.2 | 6.3 | 9.8 | 4.1 | 3.5 | 0.5 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Mountain Center?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KSOX (Santa Ana Mountains, CA), about 53 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 Mountain Center | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KSOX Santa Ana Mountains, CA | 53 mi west | 3,800 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KNKX San Diego, CA | 58 mi south-southwest | 4,300 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KEYX Edwards AFB, CA | 107 mi north-northwest | 10,700 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 Mountain Center
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 9 tornadoes within 25 miles of Mountain Center. Most came in July and August. The strongest was an F1 on July 20, 1974, which touched down about 13 miles west-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on August 16, 2018, which touched down about 10 miles south of town.
Hail: 7 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.50-inch hail on August 30, 2008.
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 Mountain Center'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.
Mountain Center radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Mountain Center, CA?
KSOX (Santa Ana Mountains, CA), about 53 miles west. KNKX (San Diego, CA) is 58 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Mountain Center?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Mountain Center the lowest scan from KSOX is about 3,800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Mountain Center 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 Mountain Center, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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