Pike, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Pike, Sierra County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Pike?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 3 days in the Sierra Nevada of Yuba-Sierra-Nevada-Placer Counties Between 3000-5000 ft Including Interstate 80 forecast zone and Sierra County — the most common reported hazard around Pike, mostly in March and December. Next come debris flows (3 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (1 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 3 | Mar 2023 | Feb 9, 2017 · $6.8 million damage |
| Debris flows | 3 | Oct 2021 | Jan 11, 2017 · $1.6 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 1 | Jul 2003 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | Jul 2020 | Jul 25, 2020 · 1 death |
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 Yuba-Sierra-Nevada-Placer Counties Between 3000-5000 ft Including Interstate 80 forecast zone and Sierra County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Pike get?
A normal year brings about 82 inches of snow to Pike, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Strawberry Valley weather station 11 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (19.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 3.5 | 15.1 | 17.7 | 19.4 | 17.1 | 8.1 | 0.6 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Pike?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBBX (Beale AFB, CA), about 34 miles west. 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 Pike | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBBX Beale AFB, CA | 34 mi west | 2,100 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KDAX Sacramento, CA | 74 mi south-southwest | 6,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KRGX Reno, NV | 85 mi east-northeast | 7,500 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 Pike
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 2 tornadoes within 25 miles of Pike. The strongest was an F1 on December 17, 1992, which passed about 18 miles west-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on October 22, 2012, which passed about 23 miles south of town.
Hail: 4 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.00-inch hail on May 30, 2020.
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 Pike'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.
Pike radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Pike, CA?
KBBX (Beale AFB, CA), about 34 miles west. KDAX (Sacramento, CA) is 74 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Pike flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 3 days in the Sierra Nevada of Yuba-Sierra-Nevada-Placer Counties Between 3000-5000 ft Including Interstate 80 forecast zone and Sierra 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 Pike 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 Pike, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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