Canyon City, OR Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Canyon City, Grant County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Canyon City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 21 days in the John Day Basin forecast zone and Grant County — the most common reported hazard around Canyon City, mostly in January and February. Next come wildfires (14 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (12 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 21 | Jan 2024 | — |
| Wildfires | 14 | Aug 2018 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 12 | Jul 2024 | Jul 11, 2001 · $15,000 damage |
| Flooding | 7 | Jan 2025 | Apr 8, 2019 · $1.4 million damage |
| High winds | 5 | Feb 2015 | — |
| Flash flooding | 4 | May 2018 | — |
| Excessive heat | 3 | Jun 2021 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 2 | Aug 2001 | — |
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 John Day Basin forecast zone and Grant County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Canyon City get?
A normal year brings about 9.6 inches of snow to Canyon City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the John Day weather station 2.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (3.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.5 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 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 Canyon City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPDT (Pendleton, OR), about 90 miles north. 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 Canyon City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPDT Pendleton, OR | 90 mi north | 8,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KCBX Boise, ID | 149 mi east-southeast | 17,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KRTX Portland, OR | 216 mi west-northwest | 33,400 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 Canyon City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 2 tornadoes within 25 miles of Canyon City. The strongest was an EF0 on November 5, 2023, which touched down about 2 miles east-northeast of town.
Hail: 3 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 1 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.50-inch hail on July 2, 1998.
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 Canyon 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.
Canyon City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Canyon City, OR?
KPDT (Pendleton, OR), about 90 miles north. KCBX (Boise, ID) is 149 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Canyon City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Canyon City the lowest scan from KPDT is about 8,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Canyon 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 Canyon City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- John Day, OR radar 2 mi
- Burns, OR radar 56 mi
- Hines, OR radar 58 mi
- Baker City, OR radar 61 mi