Portland, OR Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Portland, Multnomah County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Portland?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 9 days in the Inner Portland Metro forecast zone and Multnomah County — the most common reported hazard around Portland, mostly in January and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (8 days) and lightning casualties & damage (5 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 9 | Jun 2022 | Dec 7, 2015 · $1.1 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 8 | Feb 2025 | Nov 6, 2021 · 1 death |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 5 | Jul 2008 | Jun 19, 2005 · $50,000 damage |
| Debris flows | 5 | Jan 2022 | Jan 13, 2021 · 1 death · $35,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 4 | Jun 2026 | Jul 5, 2024 · 7 deaths |
| Flash flooding | 2 | May 2017 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 1 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 1 | Feb 2025 | Feb 2, 2025 · 1 death |
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 Inner Portland Metro forecast zone and Multnomah County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Portland get?
A normal year brings about 3.6 inches of snow to Portland, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Portland Kgw-Tv weather station 2.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (1.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 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 Portland?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRTX (Portland, OR), about 20 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 Portland | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRTX Portland, OR | 20 mi northwest | 1,100 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KLGX Langley Hill, WA | 129 mi north-northwest | 14,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KATX Seattle/Tacoma, WA | 184 mi north | 25,400 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 Portland
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 33 tornadoes within 25 miles of Portland, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in October and April. The strongest was an F3 on April 5, 1972, which passed about 4 miles north-northeast of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on October 11, 2023, which touched down about 23 miles north of town.
Hail: 11 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on August 4, 1999.
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 Portland'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.
Portland radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Portland, OR?
KRTX (Portland, OR), about 20 miles northwest. KLGX (Langley Hill, WA) is 129 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Portland flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 9 days in the Inner Portland Metro forecast zone and Multnomah 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 Portland 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 Portland, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Lake Oswego, OR radar 9 mi
- Beaverton, OR radar 9 mi
- Happy Valley, OR radar 10 mi
- Tigard, OR radar 10 mi
- Fairview, OR radar 10 mi
- Gresham, OR radar 10 mi
- Gladstone, OR radar 11 mi
- Wood Village, OR radar 11 mi
- Durham, OR radar 11 mi