Pahala, HI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Pahala, Hawaii in Hawaii County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Pahala?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 106 days in the Big Island Southeast forecast zone and Hawaii in Hawaii County — the most common reported hazard around Pahala, mostly in December and March. Next come flooding (71 days) and wildfires (26 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 | 26 | Aug 2023 | Nov 18, 2003 · $15,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 8 | Feb 2023 | Oct 12, 2017 · $15,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 6 | Feb 2018 | Feb 18, 2018 · 1 death |
| Debris flows | 3 | Nov 2023 | — |
| High winds | 1 | Nov 2023 | — |
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 Big Island Southeast forecast zone and Hawaii in Hawaii County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Pahala?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is PHWA (South Shore, HI), about 10 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 Pahala | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHWA South Shore, HI | 10 mi southwest | 500 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| PHKM Kohala, HI | 66 mi north-northwest | 5,300 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| PHMO Molokai, HI | 172 mi northwest | 22,800 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 Pahala
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 2 tornadoes within 25 miles of Pahala. The strongest was an F1 on March 25, 1988, which touched down about 21 miles north of town. The most recent was an F0 on February 28, 2004, which crossed near 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 Pahala'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.
Pahala radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Pahala, HI?
PHWA (South Shore, HI), about 10 miles southwest. PHKM (Kohala, HI) is 66 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Pahala flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 106 days in the Big Island Southeast 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 Pahala 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 Pahala, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.