North Plains, OR Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for North Plains, Washington County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits North Plains?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 22 days in the Tualatin Valley forecast zone and Washington County — the most common reported hazard around North Plains, mostly in January and December. Next come lightning casualties & damage (5 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (4 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 22 | Jan 2024 | Dec 3, 2007 · 1 death · $2.3 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 5 | Jun 2018 | Aug 5, 2003 · $150,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 4 | Apr 2022 | May 4, 2017 · $15,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 1 | Jul 2024 | Jul 9, 2024 · 4 deaths |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 1 | Feb 2025 | — |
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 Tualatin Valley forecast zone and Washington County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does North Plains get?
A normal year brings about 2.7 inches of snow to North Plains, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Forest Grove weather station 7.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (1.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 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 North Plains?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRTX (Portland, OR), about 8 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 North Plains | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRTX Portland, OR | 8 mi north | 400 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KLGX Langley Hill, WA | 118 mi north-northwest | 12,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KATX Seattle/Tacoma, WA | 181 mi north | 24,700 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 North Plains
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 21 tornadoes within 25 miles of North Plains, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in October and September. The strongest was an F3 on April 5, 1972, which passed about 18 miles east of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on October 11, 2023, which touched down about 24 miles northeast of town.
Hail: 10 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on May 12, 1993.
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 North Plains'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.
North Plains radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to North Plains, OR?
KRTX (Portland, OR), about 8 miles north. KLGX (Langley Hill, WA) is 118 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does North Plains flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 22 days in the Tualatin Valley forecast zone and Washington County; the deadliest was on December 3, 2007, with 1 death. 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 North Plains 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 North Plains, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Banks, OR radar 6 mi
- Hillsboro, OR radar 6 mi
- Cornelius, OR radar 6 mi
- Forest Grove, OR radar 8 mi
- Beaverton, OR radar 12 mi
- Scappoose, OR radar 13 mi
- Tigard, OR radar 16 mi
- King City, OR radar 16 mi
- Portland, OR radar 17 mi
- Sherwood, OR radar 18 mi