East Kapolei, HI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for East Kapolei, Oahu in Honolulu County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits East Kapolei?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 122 days in the Ewa Plain forecast zone and Oahu in Honolulu County — the most common reported hazard around East Kapolei, mostly in March and February. Next come flooding (64 days) and wildfires (28 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 122 | May 2026 | Mar 20, 2026 · $1.0 billion damage |
| Flooding | 64 | Dec 2025 | Mar 17, 2025 · $50,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 28 | Nov 2003 | Jul 26, 2000 · $230,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 11 | May 2026 | May 15, 2026 · $1.0 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 9 | Dec 2022 | Apr 13, 2018 · $10,000 damage |
| Debris flows | 9 | May 2024 | — |
| High winds | 2 | Mar 2026 | Mar 13, 2026 · $10,000 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 Ewa Plain forecast zone and Oahu in Honolulu County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover East Kapolei?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is PHMO (Molokai, HI), about 59 miles east-southeast. 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 East Kapolei | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHMO Molokai, HI | 59 mi east-southeast | 4,400 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| PHKI Kauai, HI | 103 mi west-northwest | 10,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| PHKM Kohala, HI | 170 mi east-southeast | 22,300 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 East Kapolei
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 19 tornadoes within 25 miles of East Kapolei, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in March and February. The strongest was an F2 on February 11, 1982, which touched down about 21 miles east of town. The most recent was an EF0 on April 23, 2015, which touched down about 2 miles south of town.
Hail: 7 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 3 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on March 9, 2012.
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 East Kapolei'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.
East Kapolei radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to East Kapolei, HI?
PHMO (Molokai, HI), about 59 miles east-southeast. PHKI (Kauai, HI) is 103 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does East Kapolei flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 122 days in the Ewa Plain forecast zone and Oahu in Honolulu 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 East Kapolei 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 East Kapolei, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Urban Honolulu, HI radar 13 mi