Walnut Creek, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Walnut Creek, Contra Costa County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Walnut Creek?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 40 days in the East Bay Interior Valleys forecast zone and Contra Costa County — the most common reported hazard around Walnut Creek, mostly in January and February. Next come excessive heat (19 days) and high winds (11 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 40 | Jan 2026 | Jan 1, 2006 · $22 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 19 | Mar 2026 | Jun 27, 2009 · 1 death |
| High winds | 11 | Jan 2019 | Jan 7, 2017 · 1 death |
| Debris flows | 11 | Feb 2019 | Apr 6, 2006 · $11 million damage |
| Wildfires | 8 | May 2022 | Aug 7, 2019 · $5,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 7 | Feb 2000 | Feb 13, 2000 · $100,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 2 | Apr 2024 | Apr 5, 2024 · $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 East Bay Interior Valleys forecast zone and Contra Costa County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Walnut Creek?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KDAX (Sacramento, CA), about 46 miles north-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 Walnut Creek | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDAX Sacramento, CA | 46 mi north-northeast | 3,200 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMUX San Francisco, CA | 52 mi south | 3,800 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KBBX Beale AFB, CA | 112 mi north | 11,500 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 Walnut Creek
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 10 tornadoes within 25 miles of Walnut Creek. Most came in September and December. The strongest was an EF1 on January 23, 2010, which touched down about 15 miles east of town. The most recent was an EF0 on April 7, 2011, which touched down about 24 miles north 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 Walnut Creek'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.
Walnut Creek radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Walnut Creek, CA?
KDAX (Sacramento, CA), about 46 miles north-northeast. KMUX (San Francisco, CA) is 52 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Walnut Creek flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 40 days in the East Bay Interior Valleys forecast zone and Contra Costa 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 Walnut Creek 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 Walnut Creek, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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