Prairie City, OR Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Prairie City, Grant County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Prairie City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 49 days in the Ochoco-John Day Highlands forecast zone and Grant County — the most common reported hazard around Prairie City, mostly in December and January. Next come wildfires (36 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (12 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 49 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Wildfires | 36 | Sep 2018 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 12 | Jul 2024 | Jul 11, 2001 · $15,000 damage |
| High winds | 8 | Mar 2021 | Sep 7, 2020 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 7 | Jan 2025 | Apr 8, 2019 · $1.4 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 5 | Aug 2022 | — |
| Flash flooding | 4 | May 2018 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 3 | 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 Ochoco-John Day Highlands forecast zone and Grant County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Prairie City get?
A normal year brings about 9.6 inches of snow to Prairie City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the John Day weather station 12.6 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 Prairie City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPDT (Pendleton, OR), about 85 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 Prairie City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPDT Pendleton, OR | 85 mi north | 7,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KCBX Boise, ID | 140 mi east-southeast | 16,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KRTX Portland, OR | 225 mi west-northwest | 35,700 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 Prairie City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 1 tornado within 25 miles of Prairie City. The strongest was an EF0 on November 5, 2023, which touched down about 11 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 4 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 Prairie 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.
Prairie City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Prairie City, OR?
KPDT (Pendleton, OR), about 85 miles north. KCBX (Boise, ID) is 140 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Prairie City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Prairie City the lowest scan from KPDT is about 7,600 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Prairie 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 Prairie City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- John Day, OR radar 13 mi
- Baker City, OR radar 48 mi