Makawao, HI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Makawao, Maui in Maui County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Makawao?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 90 days in the Windward Haleakala forecast zone and Maui in Maui County — the most common reported hazard around Makawao, mostly in December and March. Next come flooding (48 days) and wildfires (15 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 90 | Apr 2026 | Apr 10, 2003 · 2 deaths |
| Flooding | 48 | Jan 2026 | Jan 19, 1997 · $24,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 15 | Oct 2003 | Aug 6, 2003 · $1.2 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 6 | Jul 2013 | Jul 29, 2013 · $20,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 6 | Jan 2025 | Jan 10, 2025 · $100,000 damage |
| High winds | 3 | Feb 2026 | Feb 8, 2026 · $100,000 damage |
| Debris flows | 2 | Mar 2021 | — |
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 Windward Haleakala forecast zone and Maui in Maui County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Makawao?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is PHMO (Molokai, HI), about 58 miles west-northwest. 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 Makawao | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHMO Molokai, HI | 58 mi west-northwest | 4,400 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| PHKM Kohala, HI | 62 mi southeast | 4,700 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| PHWA South Shore, HI | 132 mi south-southeast | 14,700 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 Makawao
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 4 tornadoes within 25 miles of Makawao. Most came in April and January. The strongest was an F0 on March 25, 2006, which touched down about 5 miles north-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on February 11, 2011, which touched down about 10 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 1 report of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-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 Makawao'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.
Makawao radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Makawao, HI?
PHMO (Molokai, HI), about 58 miles west-northwest. PHKM (Kohala, HI) is 62 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Makawao flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 90 days in the Windward Haleakala forecast zone and Maui in Maui County; the deadliest was on April 10, 2003, with 2 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 Makawao 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 Makawao, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.