North Fork, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for North Fork, Madera County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits North Fork?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 38 days in the Mariposa-Madera Lower Sierra forecast zone and Madera County — the most common reported hazard around North Fork, mostly in January and March. Next come high winds (25 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (9 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 38 | Feb 2025 | Apr 5, 2006 · $8.6 million damage |
| High winds | 25 | Mar 2025 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 9 | Mar 2019 | Apr 7, 2001 · $7.8 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 7 | Jan 2014 | Jan 30, 2014 · $3,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 7 | Oct 2003 | Aug 20, 2001 · $4.1 million damage |
| Debris flows | 7 | Mar 2025 | Mar 17, 2025 · $5,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 6 | Oct 2024 | — |
| Flash flooding | 5 | Jan 2023 | Oct 29, 2007 · $25,000 damage |
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 Mariposa-Madera Lower Sierra forecast zone and Madera County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does North Fork get?
A normal year brings about 2.0 inches of snow to North Fork, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Auberry 2 Nw weather station 9.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually March (0.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover North Fork?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KHNX (San Joaquin Valley, CA), about 64 miles south. 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 North Fork | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KHNX San Joaquin Valley, CA | 64 mi south | 5,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMUX San Francisco, CA | 131 mi west | 14,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDAX Sacramento, CA | 147 mi northwest | 17,500 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 North Fork
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 6 tornadoes within 25 miles of North Fork, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in February and November. The strongest was an EF2 on September 5, 2020, which passed about 13 miles northeast of town.
Hail: 3 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.50-inch hail on May 27, 2009.
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 North Fork'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.
North Fork radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to North Fork, CA?
KHNX (San Joaquin Valley, CA), about 64 miles south. KMUX (San Francisco, CA) is 131 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does North Fork flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 38 days in the Mariposa-Madera Lower Sierra forecast zone and Madera 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 North Fork 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 North Fork, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Clovis, CA radar 29 mi
- Fresno, CA radar 35 mi
- Madera, CA radar 36 mi
- Sanger, CA radar 37 mi
- Mammoth Lakes, CA radar 40 mi
- Chowchilla, CA radar 41 mi
- Fowler, CA radar 43 mi
- Parlier, CA radar 43 mi
- Orange Cove, CA radar 44 mi
- Reedley, CA radar 44 mi