Pala, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Pala, San Diego County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Pala?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 148 days in the San Diego County Inland Valleys forecast zone and San Diego County — the most common reported hazard around Pala, mostly in August and January. Next come wildfires (115 days) and flooding (114 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 148 | Mar 2025 | Jan 22, 2024 · 2 deaths · $100,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 115 | Jan 2025 | Oct 25, 2003 · 14 deaths · $1.0 billion damage |
| Flooding | 114 | Jan 2026 | Dec 16, 2002 · 3 deaths · $60,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 73 | Feb 2026 | Mar 22, 2007 · 3 deaths |
| High winds | 62 | Jan 2025 | Jan 7, 2003 · $28 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 62 | Aug 2025 | Jun 23, 2024 · 1 death |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 38 | Dec 2023 | Sep 2, 2001 · 1 death |
| Debris flows | 24 | Aug 2024 | Apr 9, 2020 · $2.0 million 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 San Diego County Inland Valleys forecast zone and San Diego County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Pala get?
A normal year brings about 26 inches of snow to Pala, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Palomar Mtn Obsy weather station 13.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (10.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 6.2 | 10.6 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 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 Pala?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KNKX (San Diego, CA), about 31 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 Pala | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KNKX San Diego, CA | 31 mi south | 1,900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KSOX Santa Ana Mountains, CA | 45 mi northwest | 3,100 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KEYX Edwards AFB, CA | 123 mi north-northwest | 13,200 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 Pala
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 14 tornadoes within 25 miles of Pala. Most came in February and October. The strongest was an F1 on October 8, 1961, which touched down about 21 miles southwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on October 8, 2022, which touched down about 24 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 6 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.00-inch hail on September 24, 2021.
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 Pala'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.
Pala radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Pala, CA?
KNKX (San Diego, CA), about 31 miles south. KSOX (Santa Ana Mountains, CA) is 45 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Pala flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 148 days in the San Diego County Inland Valleys forecast zone and San Diego County; the deadliest was on January 22, 2024, with 2 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 Pala 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 Pala, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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