Madras, OR Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Madras, Jefferson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Madras?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 27 days in the Central Oregon forecast zone and Jefferson County — the most common reported hazard around Madras, mostly in February and January. Next come wildfires (14 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (13 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 27 | Mar 2025 | Feb 23, 2019 · $1.5 million damage |
| Wildfires | 14 | Jun 2020 | Jul 9, 2002 · $5.5 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 13 | Jul 2022 | Aug 1, 2009 · $50,000 damage |
| High winds | 11 | Feb 2020 | — |
| Excessive heat | 4 | Aug 2022 | Jun 27, 2021 · 2 deaths |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 4 | Aug 2013 | Aug 25, 2013 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 1 | Dec 2013 | — |
| Flash flooding | 1 | May 2023 | — |
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 Central Oregon forecast zone and Jefferson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Madras get?
A normal year brings about 14 inches of snow to Madras, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Madras 2 N weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually January (5.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 1.1 | 4.2 | 5.3 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 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 Madras?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRTX (Portland, OR), about 114 miles northwest. 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 Madras | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRTX Portland, OR | 114 mi northwest | 11,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPDT Pendleton, OR | 133 mi east-northeast | 15,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMAX Medford, OR | 195 mi south-southwest | 28,000 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 Madras
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 4 tornadoes within 25 miles of Madras. Most came in July and May. The strongest was an F0 on June 9, 2004, which touched down about 2 miles south-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on July 28, 2025, which touched down about 17 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 26 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 1 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on July 22, 2014.
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 Madras'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.
Madras radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Madras, OR?
KRTX (Portland, OR), about 114 miles northwest. KPDT (Pendleton, OR) is 133 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Madras?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Madras the lowest scan from KRTX is about 11,800 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Madras 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 Madras, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Metolius, OR radar 5 mi
- Culver, OR radar 10 mi
- Redmond, OR radar 28 mi
- Prineville, OR radar 29 mi
- Sisters, OR radar 32 mi
- Bend, OR radar 43 mi