Prineville, OR Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Prineville, Crook County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Prineville?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 27 days in the Central Oregon forecast zone and Crook County — the most common reported hazard around Prineville, mostly in February and January. Next come high winds (11 days) and wildfires (6 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 27 | Mar 2025 | Feb 23, 2019 · $1.5 million damage |
| High winds | 11 | Feb 2020 | — |
| Wildfires | 6 | Jun 2020 | — |
| Flash flooding | 6 | May 2023 | Aug 8, 2019 · $20,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 6 | Jul 2024 | Aug 2, 2009 · $2,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 4 | Aug 2022 | Jun 27, 2021 · 2 deaths |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 4 | May 2016 | May 14, 2016 · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 1 | Dec 2013 | — |
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 Crook County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Prineville get?
A normal year brings about 8.8 inches of snow to Prineville, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Prineville weather station 1 mile away. The snowiest month is usually February (3.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 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 Prineville?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPDT (Pendleton, OR), about 137 miles northeast. 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 Prineville | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPDT Pendleton, OR | 137 mi northeast | 15,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KRTX Portland, OR | 142 mi northwest | 16,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMAX Medford, OR | 180 mi south-southwest | 24,400 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 Prineville
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 2 tornadoes within 25 miles of Prineville. The strongest was an F1 on August 22, 1989, which touched down about 22 miles southwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on July 28, 2025, which touched down about 21 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 45 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 June 12, 2006.
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 Prineville'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.
Prineville radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Prineville, OR?
KPDT (Pendleton, OR), about 137 miles northeast. KRTX (Portland, OR) is 142 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Prineville?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Prineville the lowest scan from KPDT is about 15,800 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Prineville 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 Prineville, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Redmond, OR radar 16 mi
- Culver, OR radar 23 mi
- Metolius, OR radar 25 mi
- Bend, OR radar 28 mi
- Madras, OR radar 29 mi
- Sisters, OR radar 34 mi
- La Pine, OR radar 52 mi