Kaaawa, HI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Kaaawa, Oahu in Honolulu County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Kaaawa?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 122 days in the Koolau Windward forecast zone and Oahu in Honolulu County — the most common reported hazard around Kaaawa, 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 · $200,000 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 Koolau Windward forecast zone and Oahu in Honolulu County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Kaaawa?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is PHMO (Molokai, HI), about 53 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 Kaaawa | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHMO Molokai, HI | 53 mi east-southeast | 3,800 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| PHKI Kauai, HI | 112 mi west-northwest | 11,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| PHKM Kohala, HI | 167 mi southeast | 21,500 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 Kaaawa
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 19 tornadoes within 25 miles of Kaaawa, 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 17 miles south-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on April 23, 2015, which touched down about 19 miles southwest 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 Kaaawa'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.
Kaaawa radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Kaaawa, HI?
PHMO (Molokai, HI), about 53 miles east-southeast. PHKI (Kauai, HI) is 112 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Kaaawa flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 122 days in the Koolau Windward 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 Kaaawa 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 Kaaawa, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Urban Honolulu, HI radar 15 mi