Lawai, HI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lawai, Kauai in Kauai County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lawai?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 113 days in the Kauai South forecast zone and Kauai in Kauai County — the most common reported hazard around Lawai, mostly in March and February. Next come flooding (47 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (10 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 113 | Apr 2026 | Mar 13, 2006 · 7 deaths |
| Flooding | 47 | Dec 2023 | Feb 21, 2013 · 1 death |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 10 | Apr 2024 | Jan 8, 2005 · $100,000 damage |
| Debris flows | 7 | Mar 2021 | Mar 6, 2021 · $3.9 million damage |
| Wildfires | 4 | Jul 2003 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Aug 2017 | Aug 20, 2017 · $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 Kauai South forecast zone and Kauai in Kauai County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Lawai?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is PHKI (Kauai, HI), about 4 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 Lawai | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHKI Kauai, HI | 4 mi southwest | 200 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| PHMO Molokai, HI | 160 mi east-southeast | 20,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| PHKM Kohala, HI | 271 mi east-southeast | 49,200 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 Lawai
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 6 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lawai. Most came in December and March. The strongest was an F1 on December 17, 1967, which touched down about 11 miles west of town. The most recent was an EF0 on December 13, 2008, which touched down about 10 miles west-northwest of town.
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 Lawai'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.
Lawai radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lawai, HI?
PHKI (Kauai, HI), about 4 miles southwest. PHMO (Molokai, HI) is 160 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Lawai flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 113 days in the Kauai South forecast zone and Kauai in Kauai County; the deadliest was on March 13, 2006, with 7 deaths. 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 Lawai 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 Lawai, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.