Mountain Meadows, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Mountain Meadows, Kern County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Mountain Meadows?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 120 days in the Tehachapi forecast zone and Kern County — the most common reported hazard around Mountain Meadows, mostly in January and March. Next come high winds (87 days) and flash flooding (72 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 120 | Jan 2026 | Jan 2, 2011 · $13 million damage |
| High winds | 87 | Mar 2026 | May 20, 2002 · $25,000 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 |
| 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 Tehachapi forecast zone and Kern County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Mountain Meadows?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KEYX (Edwards AFB, CA), about 49 miles east. 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 Meadows | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KEYX Edwards AFB, CA | 49 mi east | 3,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KVTX Los Angeles, CA | 63 mi southwest | 4,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KSOX Santa Ana Mountains, CA | 99 mi south-southeast | 9,500 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 Mountain Meadows
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 3 tornadoes within 25 miles of Mountain Meadows. Most came in April and September. The strongest was an EF0 on September 1, 2007, which passed about 16 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on June 2, 2019, which touched down about 24 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 6 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on June 5, 2023.
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 Meadows'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 Meadows radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Mountain Meadows, CA?
KEYX (Edwards AFB, CA), about 49 miles east. KVTX (Los Angeles, CA) is 63 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Mountain Meadows flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 120 days in the Tehachapi 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 Mountain Meadows 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 Meadows, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Arvin, CA radar 24 mi
- Lancaster, CA radar 31 mi
- California City, CA radar 32 mi
- Bakersfield, CA radar 39 mi
- Palmdale, CA radar 39 mi
- Santa Clarita, CA radar 47 mi
- Shafter, CA radar 51 mi
- Maricopa, CA radar 55 mi
- Fillmore, CA radar 55 mi