Papaikou, HI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Papaikou, Hawaii in Hawaii County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Papaikou?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 106 days in the Big Island East forecast zone and Hawaii in Hawaii County — the most common reported hazard around Papaikou, mostly in December and March. Next come flooding (71 days) and wildfires (24 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 | 24 | Nov 2003 | 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 | — |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 1 | Aug 2024 | — |
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 East forecast zone and Hawaii in Hawaii County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Papaikou?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is PHKM (Kohala, HI), about 50 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 Papaikou | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHKM Kohala, HI | 50 mi west-northwest | 3,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| PHWA South Shore, HI | 58 mi south-southwest | 4,400 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| PHMO Molokai, HI | 163 mi northwest | 20,800 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 Papaikou
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 4 tornadoes within 25 miles of Papaikou. Most came in March and November. The strongest was an F1 on March 20, 1980, which touched down about 6 miles south of town. The most recent was an F0 on April 3, 1986, which touched down about 6 miles south 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 Papaikou'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.
Papaikou radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Papaikou, HI?
PHKM (Kohala, HI), about 50 miles west-northwest. PHWA (South Shore, HI) is 58 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Papaikou flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 106 days in the Big Island East 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 Papaikou 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 Papaikou, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.