Golden Valley, NV Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Golden Valley, Washoe County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Golden Valley?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged high winds on 321 days in the Greater Reno-Carson City-Minden Area forecast zone and Washoe County — the most common reported hazard around Golden Valley, mostly in December and January. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (130 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (36 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| High winds | 321 | Apr 2026 | Sep 23, 2005 · 1 death · $5,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 130 | Feb 2026 | Dec 19, 1998 · 1 death · $150,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 36 | Jun 2026 | Jul 13, 2002 · $5,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 26 | Jun 2026 | Jun 19, 2026 · $5.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 19 | Jul 2024 | Jan 1, 1997 · 2 deaths |
| Wildfires | 17 | Jun 2025 | Nov 18, 2011 · 1 death · $8.0 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 5 | Jun 2013 | Jun 28, 2013 · $300,000 damage |
| Dust storms | 4 | May 2014 | — |
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 Greater Reno-Carson City-Minden Area forecast zone and Washoe County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Golden Valley get?
A normal year brings about 17 inches of snow to Golden Valley, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Stead weather station 3.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (5.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 1.0 | 5.4 | 4.0 | 3.1 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Golden Valley?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRGX (Reno, NV), about 21 miles east-northeast. 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 Golden Valley | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRGX Reno, NV | 21 mi east-northeast | 1,200 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KBBX Beale AFB, CA | 97 mi west | 9,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KDAX Sacramento, CA | 126 mi southwest | 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 Golden Valley
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 12 tornadoes within 25 miles of Golden Valley. Most came in July and August. The strongest was an F1 on July 16, 1973, which touched down about 3 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on August 15, 2020, which touched down about 18 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 22 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 1 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on June 24, 2005.
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 Golden Valley'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.
Golden Valley radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Golden Valley, NV?
KRGX (Reno, NV), about 21 miles east-northeast. KBBX (Beale AFB, CA) is 97 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Golden Valley?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Golden Valley the lowest scan from KRGX is about 1,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Golden Valley 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 Golden Valley, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Reno, NV radar 5 mi
- Sparks, NV radar 6 mi
- Carson, NV radar 32 mi
- Fernley, NV radar 34 mi
- Fallon, NV radar 57 mi
- Yerington, NV radar 60 mi