Cottonwood, ID Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Cottonwood, Idaho County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Cottonwood?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 75 days in the Orofino/Grangeville Region forecast zone and Idaho County — the most common reported hazard around Cottonwood, mostly in December and February. Next come high winds (30 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (28 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 75 | Feb 2025 | Feb 8, 2008 · $7.5 million damage |
| High winds | 30 | Dec 2025 | Dec 17, 2025 · $140,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 28 | May 2026 | Jul 24, 2024 · $475,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 12 | Sep 2025 | Apr 14, 2024 · $8.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 9 | May 2023 | Apr 9, 2019 · $6.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 7 | Dec 2016 | — |
| Excessive heat | 7 | Aug 2024 | — |
| Wildfires | 2 | Sep 2020 | Aug 10, 2015 · 1 death · $8.5 million 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 Orofino/Grangeville Region forecast zone and Idaho County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Cottonwood get?
A normal year brings about 61 inches of snow to Cottonwood, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Cottonwood 2 Wsw weather station 2.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (16.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | 6.3 | 16.5 | 16.3 | 11.0 | 8.7 | 1.8 | 0.3 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Cottonwood?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPDT (Pendleton, OR), about 123 miles west. 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 Cottonwood | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPDT Pendleton, OR | 123 mi west | 13,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KOTX Spokane, WA | 128 mi north-northwest | 14,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMSX Missoula, MT | 132 mi east-northeast | 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 Cottonwood
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 3 tornadoes within 25 miles of Cottonwood. Most came in October and April. The strongest was an EF0 on October 7, 2010, which touched down about 6 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 58 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 7 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on July 14, 1975.
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 Cottonwood'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.
Cottonwood radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Cottonwood, ID?
KPDT (Pendleton, OR), about 123 miles west. KOTX (Spokane, WA) is 128 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Cottonwood?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Cottonwood the lowest scan from KPDT is about 13,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Cottonwood 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 Cottonwood, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Grangeville, ID radar 14 mi
- Kamiah, ID radar 20 mi
- Orofino, ID radar 30 mi
- Lapwai, ID radar 33 mi
- Lewiston, ID radar 39 mi
- Genesee, ID radar 44 mi
- Moscow, ID radar 56 mi