Waimea, HI Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Waimea, Hawaii in Hawaii County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Waimea?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 106 days in the Big Island North forecast zone and Hawaii in Hawaii County — the most common reported hazard around Waimea, 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 | Sep 2025 | 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 | Aug 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 North forecast zone and Hawaii in Hawaii County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Waimea?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is PHKM (Kohala, HI), about 12 miles 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 Waimea | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHKM Kohala, HI | 12 mi northwest | 600 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| PHWA South Shore, HI | 64 mi south | 5,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| PHMO Molokai, HI | 126 mi northwest | 13,700 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 Waimea
NOAA has no tornado on record within 25 miles of Waimea since 1950.
Hail: 1 report of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.00-inch hail on March 8, 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 Waimea'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.
Waimea radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Waimea, HI?
PHKM (Kohala, HI), about 12 miles northwest. PHWA (South Shore, HI) is 64 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Waimea flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 106 days in the Big Island North 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 Waimea 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 Waimea, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.