Kawela Bay, HI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Kawela Bay, Oahu in Honolulu County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Kawela Bay?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 122 days in the Oahu North Shore forecast zone and Oahu in Honolulu County — the most common reported hazard around Kawela Bay, mostly in March and February. Next come flooding (68 days) and wildfires (37 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 122 | May 2026 | Mar 20, 2026 · $1.0 billion damage |
| Flooding | 68 | Dec 2025 | Sep 9, 2000 · $400,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 37 | Sep 2023 | Aug 12, 2007 · $1.0 million damage |
| High winds | 36 | Jan 2017 | — |
| 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 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 7 | Feb 2004 | — |
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 Oahu North Shore forecast zone and Oahu in Honolulu County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Kawela Bay?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is PHMO (Molokai, HI), about 67 miles 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 Kawela Bay | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHMO Molokai, HI | 67 mi southeast | 5,300 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| PHKI Kauai, HI | 100 mi west | 9,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| PHKM Kohala, HI | 181 mi southeast | 24,600 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 Kawela Bay
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 12 tornadoes within 25 miles of Kawela Bay, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in January and March. The strongest was an F2 on March 18, 1982, which touched down about 14 miles south of town. The most recent was an EF0 on February 11, 2009, which touched down about 25 miles south of town.
Hail: 5 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 2 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 Kawela Bay'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.
Kawela Bay radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Kawela Bay, HI?
PHMO (Molokai, HI), about 67 miles southeast. PHKI (Kauai, HI) is 100 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Kawela Bay?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Kawela Bay the lowest scan from PHMO is about 5,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Kawela Bay 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 Kawela Bay, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Urban Honolulu, HI radar 28 mi