Rail Road Flat, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Rail Road Flat, Calaveras County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Rail Road Flat?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 12 days in the Southern Motherlode Between 1000-3000 ft forecast zone and Calaveras County — the most common reported hazard around Rail Road Flat, mostly in December and January. Next come flash flooding (4 days) and wildfires (2 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 12 | Apr 2026 | Feb 9, 2017 · $7.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 4 | Mar 2023 | Mar 11, 2023 · $20,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 2 | Sep 1999 | Sep 9, 1999 · $290,000 damage |
| Debris flows | 2 | Mar 2016 | Dec 22, 2015 · $10,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | Sep 1999 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 1 | Jan 2023 | Jan 10, 2023 · $11,000 damage |
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 Southern Motherlode Between 1000-3000 ft forecast zone and Calaveras County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Rail Road Flat get?
A normal year brings about 3.7 inches of snow to Rail Road Flat, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the W Pt weather station 2.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (1.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 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 Rail Road Flat?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDAX (Sacramento, CA), about 62 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 Rail Road Flat | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDAX Sacramento, CA | 62 mi west | 4,800 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KBBX Beale AFB, CA | 99 mi northwest | 9,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMUX San Francisco, CA | 110 mi southwest | 11,100 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 Rail Road Flat
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 2 tornadoes within 25 miles of Rail Road Flat. The strongest was an EF1 on January 10, 2023, which touched down about 20 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 1 report of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.00-inch hail on March 30, 2013.
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 Rail Road Flat'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.
Rail Road Flat radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Rail Road Flat, CA?
KDAX (Sacramento, CA), about 62 miles west. KBBX (Beale AFB, CA) is 99 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Rail Road Flat flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 12 days in the Southern Motherlode Between 1000-3000 ft forecast zone and Calaveras 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 Rail Road Flat 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 Rail Road Flat, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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