Whitewater, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Whitewater, Riverside County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Whitewater?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 153 days in the San Gorgonio Pass Near Banning forecast zone and Riverside County — the most common reported hazard around Whitewater, mostly in August and September. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (103 days) and flooding (83 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 153 | Sep 2025 | Mar 5, 2000 · 1 death · $300,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 103 | Feb 2026 | Jul 23, 2019 · $8.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 83 | Dec 2025 | Mar 8, 2000 · 2 deaths · $60,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 78 | Aug 2024 | Jun 29, 2001 · 1 death |
| High winds | 69 | Apr 2026 | Apr 12, 2018 · $30,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 29 | Jan 2024 | Jul 30, 2003 · 1 death |
| Debris flows | 17 | Aug 2025 | Jan 6, 2016 · $2,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 2 | Sep 2022 | — |
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 San Gorgonio Pass Near Banning forecast zone and Riverside County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Whitewater get?
A normal year brings about 31 inches of snow to Whitewater, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Idyllwild Fire Dept weather station 12.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (9.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 2.3 | 4.2 | 6.3 | 9.8 | 4.1 | 3.5 | 0.5 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Whitewater?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KSOX (Santa Ana Mountains, CA), about 55 miles west. 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 Whitewater | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KSOX Santa Ana Mountains, CA | 55 mi west | 4,100 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KNKX San Diego, CA | 73 mi south-southwest | 6,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KEYX Edwards AFB, CA | 94 mi north-northwest | 8,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
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 Whitewater
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 7 tornadoes within 25 miles of Whitewater. Most came in July and October. The strongest was an F1 on July 20, 1974, which touched down about 20 miles southwest of town. The most recent was an F0 on July 23, 2005, which touched down about 21 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 14 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on August 14, 2004.
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 Whitewater'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.
Whitewater radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Whitewater, CA?
KSOX (Santa Ana Mountains, CA), about 55 miles west. KNKX (San Diego, CA) is 73 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Whitewater flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 153 days in the San Gorgonio Pass Near Banning forecast zone and Riverside County; the deadliest was on March 5, 2000, with 1 death. 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 Whitewater 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 Whitewater, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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