San Clemente, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for San Clemente, Orange County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits San Clemente?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 64 days in the Orange County Inland forecast zone and Orange County — the most common reported hazard around San Clemente, mostly in February and March. Next come excessive heat (42 days) and flash flooding (41 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 64 | Feb 2026 | Dec 19, 2010 · $36 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 42 | Mar 2026 | Jul 8, 2020 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 41 | Nov 2025 | Feb 23, 1998 · 2 deaths · $30 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 24 | Feb 2026 | Dec 6, 1998 · $450,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 21 | Nov 2024 | Oct 9, 2017 · $25 million damage |
| High winds | 13 | Jan 2025 | Oct 15, 2018 · 1 death |
| Debris flows | 10 | Mar 2023 | Mar 10, 2021 · $50,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 4 | Mar 2016 | Mar 3, 2000 · $50,000 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 Orange County Inland forecast zone and Orange County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover San Clemente?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KSOX (Santa Ana Mountains, CA), about 26 miles north. 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 San Clemente | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KSOX Santa Ana Mountains, CA | 26 mi north | 1,500 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KNKX San Diego, CA | 49 mi southeast | 3,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KVTX Los Angeles, CA | 112 mi northwest | 11,400 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 San Clemente
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 21 tornadoes within 25 miles of San Clemente, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in February and November. The strongest was an F2 on November 7, 1966, which touched down about 22 miles northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on September 22, 2007, which touched down about 22 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 6 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.50-inch hail on March 6, 2000.
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 San Clemente'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.
San Clemente radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to San Clemente, CA?
KSOX (Santa Ana Mountains, CA), about 26 miles north. KNKX (San Diego, CA) is 49 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does San Clemente flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 64 days in the Orange County Inland forecast zone and Orange 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 San Clemente 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 San Clemente, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.