Kailua, HI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Kailua, Hawaii in Hawaii County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Kailua?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 106 days in the Kona forecast zone and Hawaii in Hawaii County — the most common reported hazard around Kailua, mostly in December and March. Next come flooding (71 days) and wildfires (39 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 106 | Jun 2026 | Feb 18, 2018 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 71 | Jan 2026 | Aug 25, 2024 · $5.0 million damage |
| Wildfires | 39 | Dec 2018 | Jan 21, 2006 · $50,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 8 | Feb 2023 | Oct 12, 2017 · $15,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 6 | Feb 2018 | Feb 18, 2018 · 1 death |
| High winds | 4 | Mar 2026 | Mar 14, 2026 · $200,000 damage |
| Debris flows | 3 | Nov 2023 | — |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 2 | Aug 2024 | Aug 25, 2024 · $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 Kona forecast zone and Hawaii in Hawaii County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Kailua?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is PHKM (Kohala, HI), about 36 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 Kailua | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHKM Kohala, HI | 36 mi north-northeast | 2,300 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| PHWA South Shore, HI | 48 mi southeast | 3,400 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| PHMO Molokai, HI | 127 mi northwest | 13,900 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 Kailua
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 1 tornado within 25 miles of Kailua, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. The strongest was an F2 on January 28, 1971, which touched down about 2 miles north of town.
Hail: 2 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.00-inch hail on March 24, 2006.
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 Kailua'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.
Kailua radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Kailua, HI?
PHKM (Kohala, HI), about 36 miles north-northeast. PHWA (South Shore, HI) is 48 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Kailua flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 106 days in the Kona forecast zone and Hawaii in Hawaii County; the deadliest was on February 18, 2018, 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 Kailua 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 Kailua, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.