Rio Dell, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Rio Dell, Humboldt County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Rio Dell?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 37 days in the Northern Coastal Humboldt forecast zone and Humboldt County — the most common reported hazard around Rio Dell, mostly in December and January. Next come high winds (15 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (9 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 37 | Jan 2026 | Feb 27, 2019 · 1 death |
| High winds | 15 | Mar 2025 | Mar 27, 2023 · $6.0 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 9 | Jan 2026 | Mar 31, 2012 · 1 death |
| Coastal flooding | 7 | Jan 2026 | Jan 3, 2026 · $200,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 4 | Mar 2024 | — |
| Wildfires | 2 | Sep 2003 | — |
| Flash flooding | 2 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | Feb 1998 | — |
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 Northern Coastal Humboldt forecast zone and Humboldt County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Rio Dell?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBHX (Eureka, CA), about 9 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 Rio Dell | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBHX Eureka, CA | 9 mi west | 500 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMAX Medford, OR | 131 mi north-northeast | 14,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KBBX Beale AFB, CA | 149 mi east-southeast | 17,900 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 Rio Dell
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 1 tornado within 25 miles of Rio Dell. The strongest was an EF0 on January 25, 2018, which touched down about 22 miles north of town.
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 Rio Dell'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.
Rio Dell radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Rio Dell, CA?
KBHX (Eureka, CA), about 9 miles west. KMAX (Medford, OR) is 131 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Rio Dell flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 37 days in the Northern Coastal Humboldt forecast zone and Humboldt County; the deadliest was on February 27, 2019, 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 Rio Dell 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 Rio Dell, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Fortuna, CA radar 6 mi
- Ferndale, CA radar 10 mi
- Eureka, CA radar 21 mi
- Arcata, CA radar 25 mi
- Blue Lake, CA radar 27 mi