San Rafael, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for San Rafael, Marin County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits San Rafael?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 60 days in the North Bay Interior Valleys forecast zone and Marin County — the most common reported hazard around San Rafael, mostly in January and February. Next come debris flows (19 days) and excessive heat (19 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 60 | Dec 2025 | Jan 1, 2006 · $108 million damage |
| Debris flows | 19 | Jan 2021 | Apr 1, 2006 · 1 death · $34 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 19 | Mar 2026 | Jul 21, 2006 · 1 death |
| Coastal flooding | 16 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 15 | Feb 2017 | Dec 11, 2014 · $4.0 million damage |
| High winds | 12 | Mar 2023 | Mar 19, 2011 · 1 death · $35,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 6 | Jun 2024 | Jun 16, 2024 · $10 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 4 | Dec 2025 | — |
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 North Bay Interior Valleys forecast zone and Marin County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover San Rafael?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDAX (Sacramento, CA), about 58 miles northeast. 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 Rafael | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDAX Sacramento, CA | 58 mi northeast | 4,300 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMUX San Francisco, CA | 66 mi south-southeast | 5,200 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KBBX Beale AFB, CA | 115 mi north-northeast | 11,900 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 San Rafael
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 2 tornadoes within 25 miles of San Rafael. The strongest was an F1 on March 20, 2005, which passed about 23 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 2 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on August 19, 1983.
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 Rafael'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 Rafael radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to San Rafael, CA?
KDAX (Sacramento, CA), about 58 miles northeast. KMUX (San Francisco, CA) is 66 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does San Rafael flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 60 days in the North Bay Interior Valleys forecast zone and Marin 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 Rafael 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 Rafael, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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