Elko, NV Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Elko, Elko County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Elko?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 113 days in the Southwest Elko County forecast zone and Elko County — the most common reported hazard around Elko, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (41 days) and high winds (36 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 113 | Jun 2026 | Jul 21, 2018 · $3.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 41 | Aug 2024 | Aug 1, 2021 · $800,000 damage |
| High winds | 36 | Jun 2026 | Mar 2, 2018 · $3.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 24 | Mar 2024 | Nov 2, 2015 · $50,000 damage |
| Flooding | 11 | Apr 2023 | Feb 7, 2017 · $3.0 million damage |
| Debris flows | 5 | Apr 2023 | Aug 10, 2022 · $5,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 2 | Jul 2017 | Jul 17, 2017 · $800,000 damage |
| Dust storms | 1 | Nov 2018 | — |
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 Southwest Elko County forecast zone and Elko County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Elko get?
A normal year brings about 41 inches of snow to Elko, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Elko Rgnl Ap weather station 1.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (10.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 4.1 | 10.2 | 10.4 | 6.8 | 5.5 | 3.3 | 0.4 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Elko?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLRX (Elko, NV), about 55 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 Elko | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLRX Elko, NV | 55 mi west | 4,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMTX Salt Lake City, UT | 175 mi east | 23,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KCBX Boise, ID | 185 mi north | 25,600 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 Elko
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 11 tornadoes within 25 miles of Elko. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F1 on May 27, 1987, which passed about 15 miles east-northeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on May 24, 2023, which touched down about 23 miles east of town.
Hail: 11 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on August 10, 1999.
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 Elko'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.
Elko radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Elko, NV?
KLRX (Elko, NV), about 55 miles west. KMTX (Salt Lake City, UT) is 175 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Elko?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Elko the lowest scan from KLRX is about 4,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Elko 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 Elko, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Carlin, NV radar 20 mi
- Wells, NV radar 47 mi