Garden City, ID Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Garden City, Ada County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Garden City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 60 days in the Upper Treasure Valley forecast zone and Ada County — the most common reported hazard around Garden City, mostly in August and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (36 days) and high winds (23 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 60 | May 2026 | Sep 7, 1998 · $20,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 36 | Mar 2024 | — |
| High winds | 23 | May 2026 | Mar 29, 2009 · $100,000 damage |
| Flooding | 13 | Jun 2023 | May 1, 2017 · $2.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 10 | Aug 2025 | Jun 6, 2023 · $2.0 million damage |
| Wildfires | 6 | Aug 2015 | Aug 25, 2008 · 1 death · $5.0 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | May 1999 | Sep 7, 1998 · $10,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 1 | May 2002 | — |
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 Upper Treasure Valley forecast zone and Ada County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Garden City get?
A normal year brings about 18 inches of snow to Garden City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Boise 5.3 Nw weather station 1.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (7.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 1.9 | 7.0 | 5.0 | 3.6 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Garden City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KCBX (Boise, ID), about 13 miles south-southeast. 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 Garden City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KCBX Boise, ID | 13 mi south-southeast | 700 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KSFX Pocatello, ID | 185 mi east | 25,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPDT Pendleton, OR | 188 mi northwest | 26,300 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 Garden City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 23 tornadoes within 25 miles of Garden City. Most came in August and July. The strongest was an F1 on October 26, 1984, which touched down about 8 miles south-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 26, 2023, which touched down about 9 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 45 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 1 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on May 25, 2018.
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 Garden City'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.
Garden City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Garden City, ID?
KCBX (Boise, ID), about 13 miles south-southeast. KSFX (Pocatello, ID) is 185 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Garden City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Garden City the lowest scan from KCBX is about 700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Garden City 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 Garden City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Boise City, ID radar 6 mi
- Meridian, ID radar 7 mi
- Eagle, ID radar 10 mi
- Star, ID radar 10 mi
- Kuna, ID radar 11 mi
- Nampa, ID radar 15 mi
- Middleton, ID radar 16 mi
- Emmett, ID radar 17 mi
- Caldwell, ID radar 18 mi
- Marsing, ID radar 27 mi