Valley Wells, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Valley Wells, Inyo County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Valley Wells?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 135 days in the Death Valley National Park forecast zone and Inyo County — the most common reported hazard around Valley Wells, mostly in July and August. Next come excessive heat (62 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (22 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 135 | Jan 2026 | Aug 15, 2004 · 2 deaths · $20 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 62 | Aug 2025 | Aug 18, 2021 · 2 deaths |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 22 | Jul 2025 | Jul 1, 2016 · $75,000 damage |
| Flooding | 21 | Nov 2025 | Jun 2, 2017 · $10 million damage |
| Dust storms | 7 | Oct 2025 | — |
| High winds | 6 | May 2026 | May 10, 2014 · $20,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 4 | Jan 2017 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | Jun 2016 | Jun 11, 2016 · $1,000 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 Death Valley National Park forecast zone and Inyo County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Valley Wells?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KEYX (Edwards AFB, CA), about 56 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 Valley Wells | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KEYX Edwards AFB, CA | 56 mi south-southwest | 4,100 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KHNX San Joaquin Valley, CA | 132 mi west-northwest | 14,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KESX Las Vegas, NV | 138 mi east | 15,800 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 Valley Wells
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 2 tornadoes within 25 miles of Valley Wells. The strongest was an EF0 on April 16, 2019, which touched down about 24 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 Valley Wells'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.
Valley Wells radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Valley Wells, CA?
KEYX (Edwards AFB, CA), about 56 miles south-southwest. KHNX (San Joaquin Valley, CA) is 132 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Valley Wells flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 135 days in the Death Valley National Park forecast zone and Inyo County; the deadliest was on August 15, 2004, with 2 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 Valley Wells 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 Valley Wells, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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