Rancho Mirage, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Rancho Mirage, Riverside County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Rancho Mirage?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 153 days in the Coachella Valley forecast zone and Riverside County — the most common reported hazard around Rancho Mirage, mostly in August and September. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (103 days) and high winds (92 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 153 | Sep 2025 | Mar 5, 2000 · 1 death · $300,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 103 | Feb 2026 | Jul 23, 2019 · $8.0 million damage |
| High winds | 92 | May 2025 | Dec 25, 2008 · $500,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 88 | Jun 2024 | Jun 29, 2001 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 83 | Dec 2025 | Mar 8, 2000 · 2 deaths · $60,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 70 | Aug 2025 | Jun 14, 2021 · 1 death |
| Dust storms | 31 | Sep 2023 | Sep 1, 2023 · 3 deaths |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 29 | Jan 2024 | Jul 30, 2003 · 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 Coachella Valley forecast zone and Riverside County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Rancho Mirage?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KNKX (San Diego, CA), about 68 miles south-southwest. 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 Rancho Mirage | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KNKX San Diego, CA | 68 mi south-southwest | 5,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KSOX Santa Ana Mountains, CA | 69 mi west | 5,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KEYX Edwards AFB, CA | 112 mi northwest | 11,500 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 Rancho Mirage
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 3 tornadoes within 25 miles of Rancho Mirage. Most came in August and December. The strongest was an EF1 on August 6, 2015, which passed about 20 miles southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on August 16, 2018, which touched down about 20 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 8 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on August 14, 2004.
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 Rancho Mirage'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.
Rancho Mirage radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Rancho Mirage, CA?
KNKX (San Diego, CA), about 68 miles south-southwest. KSOX (Santa Ana Mountains, CA) is 69 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Rancho Mirage flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 153 days in the Coachella Valley forecast zone and Riverside County; the deadliest was on March 5, 2000, 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 Rancho Mirage 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 Rancho Mirage, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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