Searles Valley, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Searles Valley, San Bernardino County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Searles Valley?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 340 days in the Western Mojave Desert forecast zone and San Bernardino County — the most common reported hazard around Searles Valley, mostly in August and July. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (129 days) and flooding (106 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 340 | Feb 2026 | Aug 26, 2003 · 3 deaths · $50,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 129 | Feb 2026 | Jun 3, 2009 · 1 death · $20,000 damage |
| Flooding | 106 | Feb 2026 | Dec 19, 2010 · 1 death |
| High winds | 102 | Feb 2026 | May 10, 2014 · $500,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 78 | Nov 2003 | Oct 25, 2003 · 4 deaths · $696 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 58 | Sep 2024 | Jun 3, 2009 · 1 death · $1,000 damage |
| Debris flows | 39 | Aug 2025 | Sep 12, 2022 · 1 death · $6.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 36 | Aug 2025 | Aug 5, 2009 · 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 Western Mojave Desert forecast zone and San Bernardino County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Searles Valley?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KEYX (Edwards AFB, CA), about 47 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 Searles Valley | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KEYX Edwards AFB, CA | 47 mi south-southwest | 3,300 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KHNX San Joaquin Valley, CA | 130 mi west-northwest | 14,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KSOX Santa Ana Mountains, CA | 136 mi south | 15,400 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 Searles Valley
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 3 tornadoes within 25 miles of Searles Valley. Most came in March and April. The strongest was an EF0 on April 16, 2019, which touched down about 16 miles southwest 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 Searles 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.
Searles Valley radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Searles Valley, CA?
KEYX (Edwards AFB, CA), about 47 miles south-southwest. KHNX (San Joaquin Valley, CA) is 130 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Searles Valley flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 340 days in the Western Mojave Desert forecast zone and San Bernardino County; the deadliest was on August 26, 2003, with 3 deaths. 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 Searles 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 Searles Valley, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Ridgecrest, CA radar 18 mi
- California City, CA radar 51 mi