Needles, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Needles, San Bernardino County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Needles?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 340 days in the San Bernardino County-Upper Colorado River Valley forecast zone and San Bernardino County — the most common reported hazard around Needles, mostly in August and July. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (129 days) and flooding (106 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 340 | Feb 2026 | Aug 26, 2003 · 3 deaths · $50,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 129 | Feb 2026 | Jun 3, 2009 · 1 death · $20,000 damage |
| Flooding | 106 | Feb 2026 | Dec 19, 2010 · 1 death |
| Wildfires | 79 | Jun 2024 | Oct 25, 2003 · 4 deaths · $696 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 58 | Sep 2024 | Jun 3, 2009 · 1 death · $1,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 46 | Aug 2025 | — |
| Debris flows | 39 | Aug 2025 | Sep 12, 2022 · 1 death · $6.0 million damage |
| High winds | 4 | Feb 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 San Bernardino County-Upper Colorado River Valley forecast zone and San Bernardino County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Needles?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KESX (Las Vegas, NV), about 63 miles north-northwest. 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 Needles | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KESX Las Vegas, NV | 63 mi north-northwest | 4,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KYUX Yuma, AZ | 160 mi south | 20,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KEYX Edwards AFB, CA | 167 mi west | 21,700 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 Needles
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 4 tornadoes within 25 miles of Needles. Most came in September and November. The strongest was an F1 on September 18, 1972, which touched down about 15 miles north-northeast of town. The most recent was an F1 on April 21, 2001, which passed about 6 miles north of town.
Hail: 12 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on September 23, 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 Needles'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.
Needles radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Needles, CA?
KESX (Las Vegas, NV), about 63 miles north-northwest. KYUX (Yuma, AZ) is 160 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Needles flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 340 days in the San Bernardino County-Upper Colorado River Valley forecast zone and San Bernardino County; the deadliest was on August 26, 2003, with 3 deaths. 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 Needles 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 Needles, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.