Pasadena, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Pasadena, Los Angeles County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Pasadena?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 115 days in the Los Angeles County San Gabriel Valley forecast zone and Los Angeles County — the most common reported hazard around Pasadena, mostly in February and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (33 days) and wildfires (17 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 115 | Feb 2026 | Feb 23, 1998 · 3 deaths |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 33 | Feb 2026 | Mar 31, 2024 · $5,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 17 | Jan 2025 | Jan 7, 2025 · 17 deaths |
| Flooding | 14 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Debris flows | 12 | Feb 2026 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 9 | Jun 2022 | Jun 22, 2022 · 1 death |
| High winds | 7 | Jan 2025 | — |
| Storm surge | 1 | Jan 1997 | — |
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 Los Angeles County San Gabriel Valley forecast zone and Los Angeles County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Pasadena?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KSOX (Santa Ana Mountains, CA), about 37 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 Pasadena | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KSOX Santa Ana Mountains, CA | 37 mi southeast | 2,400 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KVTX Los Angeles, CA | 62 mi west-northwest | 4,800 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KEYX Edwards AFB, CA | 73 mi north-northeast | 6,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
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 Pasadena
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 40 tornadoes within 25 miles of Pasadena, 5 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in March and January. The strongest was an F2 on March 1, 1983, which passed about 14 miles west-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on March 13, 2025, which touched down about 12 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 11 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.50-inch hail on March 1, 2014.
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 Pasadena'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.
Pasadena radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Pasadena, CA?
KSOX (Santa Ana Mountains, CA), about 37 miles southeast. KVTX (Los Angeles, CA) is 62 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Pasadena flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 115 days in the Los Angeles County San Gabriel Valley forecast zone and Los Angeles County; the deadliest was on February 23, 1998, 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 Pasadena 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 Pasadena, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.