Lowell, OR Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lowell, Lane County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lowell?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 25 days in the Lane County Lowlands forecast zone and Lane County — the most common reported hazard around Lowell, mostly in December and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (13 days) and wildfires (5 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 25 | Mar 2025 | Jan 18, 2012 · $2.0 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 13 | Sep 2024 | Dec 10, 2015 · $260,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 5 | Aug 2002 | Sep 1, 1996 · $1.7 million damage |
| Debris flows | 4 | Mar 2025 | Apr 7, 2019 · $100,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | Jun 2005 | — |
| Flash flooding | 1 | Jun 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 Lane County Lowlands forecast zone and Lane County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Lowell?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRTX (Portland, OR), about 124 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 Lowell | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRTX Portland, OR | 124 mi north | 13,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMAX Medford, OR | 127 mi south | 13,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPDT Pendleton, OR | 228 mi northeast | 36,600 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 Lowell
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 5 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lowell. Most came in December and August. The strongest was an F1 on November 24, 1989, which touched down about 16 miles west-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on April 14, 2015, which touched down about 14 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 6 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.25-inch hail on August 9, 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 Lowell'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.
Lowell radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lowell, OR?
KRTX (Portland, OR), about 124 miles north. KMAX (Medford, OR) is 127 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Lowell flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 25 days in the Lane County Lowlands forecast zone and Lane County. TALON's free flash-flood risk layer shows, every 2 minutes, how close the rain that has fallen is to what it takes to flood — turn it on under Layers.
Is TALON's radar for Lowell 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 Lowell, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Creswell, OR radar 12 mi
- Springfield, OR radar 14 mi
- Cottage Grove, OR radar 16 mi
- Eugene, OR radar 19 mi
- Oakridge, OR radar 20 mi
- Coburg, OR radar 20 mi
- Junction City, OR radar 29 mi
- Veneta, OR radar 30 mi
- Harrisburg, OR radar 31 mi
- Drain, OR radar 32 mi