Scotts Valley, CA Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Scotts Valley, Santa Cruz County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for Scotts ValleyWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Scotts Valley?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged high winds on 38 days in the Santa Cruz Mountains forecast zone and Santa Cruz County — the most common reported hazard around Scotts Valley, mostly in February and January. Next come flooding (38 days) and debris flows (36 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
High winds38May 2026Feb 27, 2006 · 1 death
Flooding38Jan 2026Feb 15, 2009 · 1 death · $15,000 damage
Debris flows36Feb 2025Apr 4, 2006 · $13 million damage
Flash flooding20Feb 2017Feb 2, 1998 · 1 death · $500,000 damage
Wildfires5Jan 2021Aug 16, 2020 · 1 death
Damaging thunderstorm winds5Dec 2025Mar 2, 2024 · $10 damage
Excessive heat3Mar 2026—
Heavy snow & winter storms3Feb 2023Feb 24, 2023 · $10 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 Santa Cruz Mountains forecast zone and Santa Cruz County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Scotts Valley?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMUX (San Francisco, CA), about 9 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over Scotts ValleyView
KMUX
San Francisco, CA		9 mi northeast500 ftExcellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KDAX
Sacramento, CA		102 mi north9,800 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KHNX
San Joaquin Valley, CA		141 mi east-southeast16,500 ftLimited — 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 Scotts Valley

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 14 tornadoes within 25 miles of Scotts Valley, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in December and January. The strongest was an F2 on May 5, 1998, which touched down about 22 miles north of town. The most recent was an EF1 on December 14, 2024, which touched down near town.

Hail: 4 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on April 1, 1965.

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 Scotts Valley'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.

Scotts Valley radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Scotts Valley, CA?

KMUX (San Francisco, CA), about 9 miles northeast. KDAX (Sacramento, CA) is 102 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Scotts Valley?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Scotts Valley the lowest scan from KMUX is about 500 ft up — excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground.

Is TALON's radar for Scotts Valley 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 Scotts Valley, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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