Palo Alto, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Palo Alto, Santa Clara County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Palo Alto?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 61 days in the San Francisco Bay Shoreline forecast zone and Santa Clara County — the most common reported hazard around Palo Alto, mostly in January and February. Next come high winds (26 days) and debris flows (16 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 61 | Jan 2026 | Dec 31, 2022 · 1 death |
| High winds | 26 | Jan 2026 | Oct 13, 2009 · $2.5 million damage |
| Debris flows | 16 | Jan 2021 | Jan 21, 2012 · $75,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 13 | Feb 2017 | Jan 4, 2017 · $10,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 10 | Mar 2026 | May 17, 2009 · $10,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 5 | Dec 2025 | Feb 4, 2024 · $10 damage |
| Coastal flooding | 4 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Aug 2020 | — |
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 Francisco Bay Shoreline forecast zone and Santa Clara County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Palo Alto?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMUX (San Francisco, CA), about 21 miles southeast. 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 Palo Alto | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMUX San Francisco, CA | 21 mi southeast | 1,200 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KDAX Sacramento, CA | 80 mi north-northeast | 6,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KBBX Beale AFB, CA | 148 mi north | 17,700 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 Palo Alto
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 12 tornadoes within 25 miles of Palo Alto, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in December and January. The strongest was an F2 on May 5, 1998, which touched down about 6 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on December 14, 2024, which touched down about 25 miles south-southeast of town.
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 Palo Alto'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.
Palo Alto radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Palo Alto, CA?
KMUX (San Francisco, CA), about 21 miles southeast. KDAX (Sacramento, CA) is 80 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Palo Alto flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 61 days in the San Francisco Bay Shoreline forecast zone and Santa Clara County; the deadliest was on December 31, 2022, with 1 death. 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 Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.