Spirit Lake, ID Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Spirit Lake, Kootenai County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Spirit Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 277 days in the Northern Panhandle forecast zone and Kootenai County — the most common reported hazard around Spirit Lake, mostly in December and January. Next come wildfires (32 days) and flooding (29 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 277 | Mar 2026 | Dec 18, 1999 · $200,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 32 | Oct 2025 | Sep 1, 2025 · $18 million damage |
| Flooding | 29 | Feb 2025 | Jun 1, 1997 · $4.0 million damage |
| High winds | 24 | Apr 2026 | Nov 17, 2015 · 1 death |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 23 | Sep 2024 | Aug 28, 2011 · $300,000 damage |
| Debris flows | 10 | Mar 2018 | Mar 15, 2017 · $900,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 8 | Feb 2014 | Jan 11, 1998 · $50,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 8 | Jun 2017 | Aug 10, 2013 · $200,000 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 Northern Panhandle forecast zone and Kootenai County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Spirit Lake get?
A normal year brings about 27 inches of snow to Spirit Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Bayview Model Basin weather station 14.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (12.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 1.4 | 12.1 | 8.7 | 3.2 | 1.8 | 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 Spirit Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOTX (Spokane, WA), about 40 miles west-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 Spirit Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOTX Spokane, WA | 40 mi west-southwest | 2,700 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMSX Missoula, MT | 149 mi east-southeast | 18,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPDT Pendleton, OR | 183 mi south-southwest | 25,200 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 Spirit Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 5 tornadoes within 25 miles of Spirit Lake, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and July. The strongest was an F2 on May 31, 1997, which passed about 12 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 24 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 2 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on August 11, 2022.
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 Spirit Lake'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.
Spirit Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Spirit Lake, ID?
KOTX (Spokane, WA), about 40 miles west-southwest. KMSX (Missoula, MT) is 149 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Spirit Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Spirit Lake the lowest scan from KOTX is about 2,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Spirit Lake 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 Spirit Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Rathdrum, ID radar 12 mi
- Hayden, ID radar 14 mi
- Priest River, ID radar 15 mi
- Dalton Gardens, ID radar 17 mi
- Post Falls, ID radar 17 mi
- Coeur d'Alene, ID radar 18 mi
- Dover, ID radar 24 mi
- Sandpoint, ID radar 26 mi
- Ponderay, ID radar 28 mi
- Kootenai, ID radar 29 mi