Willow Creek, CA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Willow Creek, Humboldt County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Willow Creek?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 37 days in the Northeastern Interior Humboldt forecast zone and Humboldt County — the most common reported hazard around Willow Creek, mostly in December and January. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (22 days) and high winds (19 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 37 | Jan 2026 | Feb 27, 2019 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 22 | Mar 2024 | Mar 2, 2024 · $300 damage |
| High winds | 19 | Nov 2025 | Mar 1, 2024 · $8,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 9 | Jan 2026 | Mar 31, 2012 · 1 death |
| Wildfires | 2 | Sep 2003 | — |
| Flash flooding | 2 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Coastal flooding | 1 | Feb 1998 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | Feb 1998 | — |
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 Northeastern Interior Humboldt forecast zone and Humboldt County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Willow Creek?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBHX (Eureka, CA), about 46 miles 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 Willow Creek | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBHX Eureka, CA | 46 mi southwest | 3,100 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMAX Medford, OR | 92 mi north-northeast | 8,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KBBX Beale AFB, CA | 146 mi southeast | 17,300 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 Willow Creek
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 1 tornado within 25 miles of Willow Creek, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. The strongest was an F2 on March 29, 1958, which touched down about 24 miles west of town.
Hail: 5 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.00-inch hail on August 10, 2017.
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 Willow 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.
Willow Creek radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Willow Creek, CA?
KBHX (Eureka, CA), about 46 miles southwest. KMAX (Medford, OR) is 92 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Willow Creek?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Willow Creek the lowest scan from KBHX is about 3,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Willow 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 Willow Creek, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Blue Lake, CA radar 19 mi
- Arcata, CA radar 23 mi
- Eureka, CA radar 29 mi
- Fortuna, CA radar 36 mi
- Rio Dell, CA radar 39 mi
- Ferndale, CA radar 41 mi