Paradise, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Paradise, Butte County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Paradise?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 44 days in the Sierra Nevada of Tehama-Butte-Plumas Counties Between 1000-3000 ft forecast zone and Butte County — the most common reported hazard around Paradise, mostly in February and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (8 days) and flash flooding (7 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 44 | Feb 2026 | Feb 12, 2017 · $549 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 8 | Feb 2023 | Sep 18, 2019 · $4.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 7 | Nov 2020 | Feb 9, 2014 · $700,000 damage |
| Debris flows | 5 | Sep 2019 | Jan 9, 2017 · $4.3 million damage |
| Wildfires | 4 | Sep 2000 | Sep 18, 2000 · $1.9 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 4 | Jan 2019 | Jun 5, 2007 · $80,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 1 | Jun 2026 | — |
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 Sierra Nevada of Tehama-Butte-Plumas Counties Between 1000-3000 ft forecast zone and Butte County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Paradise?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBBX (Beale AFB, CA), about 18 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 Paradise | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBBX Beale AFB, CA | 18 mi south | 1,000 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KDAX Sacramento, CA | 87 mi south | 7,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KRGX Reno, NV | 114 mi east | 11,700 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 Paradise
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 19 tornadoes within 25 miles of Paradise, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in March and January. The strongest was an F2 on February 10, 1994, which touched down about 16 miles south of town. The most recent was an EF1 on December 19, 2023, which touched down about 13 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 9 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.00-inch hail on March 6, 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 Paradise'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.
Paradise radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Paradise, CA?
KBBX (Beale AFB, CA), about 18 miles south. KDAX (Sacramento, CA) is 87 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Paradise flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 44 days in the Sierra Nevada of Tehama-Butte-Plumas Counties Between 1000-3000 ft forecast zone and Butte 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 Paradise 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 Paradise, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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