Paynes Creek, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Paynes Creek, Tehama County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Paynes Creek?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 30 days in the Sierra Nevada of Tehama-Butte-Plumas Counties Between 1000-3000 ft forecast zone and Tehama County — the most common reported hazard around Paynes Creek, mostly in February and December. Next come wildfires (6 days) and flash flooding (5 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 30 | Apr 2026 | Feb 17, 2017 · 1 death |
| Wildfires | 6 | Oct 2000 | Sep 29, 2000 · $547 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 5 | Dec 2025 | Dec 3, 2014 · $6.7 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 3 | Jan 2023 | Feb 22, 2007 · $6,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 1 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | May 2020 | May 18, 2020 · $5,000 damage |
| Debris flows | 1 | Dec 2024 | — |
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 Tehama County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Paynes Creek get?
A normal year brings about 3.9 inches of snow to Paynes Creek, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Volta Ph weather station 8.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (1.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 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 Paynes Creek?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBBX (Beale AFB, CA), about 60 miles south-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 Paynes Creek | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBBX Beale AFB, CA | 60 mi south-southeast | 4,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KBHX Eureka, CA | 125 mi west | 13,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMAX Medford, OR | 127 mi north-northwest | 13,900 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 Paynes Creek
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 5 tornadoes within 25 miles of Paynes Creek, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in March and May. The strongest was an F2 on May 9, 1980, which touched down about 21 miles southwest of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on January 3, 2025, which touched down about 8 miles west of town.
Hail: 8 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 1 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.25-inch hail on May 9, 1980.
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 Paynes Creek'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.
Paynes Creek radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Paynes Creek, CA?
KBBX (Beale AFB, CA), about 60 miles south-southeast. KBHX (Eureka, CA) is 125 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Paynes Creek flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 30 days in the Sierra Nevada of Tehama-Butte-Plumas Counties Between 1000-3000 ft forecast zone and Tehama County; the deadliest was on February 17, 2017, 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 Paynes Creek 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 Paynes Creek, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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