Salem, OR Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Salem, Marion County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Salem?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 22 days in the East Central Willamette Valley forecast zone and Marion County — the most common reported hazard around Salem, mostly in January and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (9 days) and lightning casualties & damage (3 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 22 | Feb 2025 | Jan 20, 2012 · $1.0 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 9 | Sep 2020 | Apr 11, 1996 · $20,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | May 2014 | May 17, 2014 · $75,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 1 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Wildfires | 1 | Aug 2001 | Aug 12, 2001 · $4.3 million damage |
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 East Central Willamette Valley forecast zone and Marion County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Salem get?
A normal year brings about 1.1 inches of snow to Salem, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Silverton weather station 13.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (0.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 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 Salem?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRTX (Portland, OR), about 55 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 Salem | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRTX Portland, OR | 55 mi north | 4,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLGX Langley Hill, WA | 160 mi north-northwest | 20,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMAX Medford, OR | 197 mi south | 28,500 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 Salem
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 18 tornadoes within 25 miles of Salem, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in September and December. The strongest was an EF2 on December 14, 2010, which passed about 9 miles southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on October 24, 2022, which touched down about 17 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 3 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.00-inch hail on February 24, 2025.
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 Salem'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.
Salem radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Salem, OR?
KRTX (Portland, OR), about 55 miles north. KLGX (Langley Hill, WA) is 160 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Salem flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 22 days in the East Central Willamette Valley forecast zone and Marion 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 Salem 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 Salem, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Keizer, OR radar 5 mi
- Turner, OR radar 6 mi
- Aumsville, OR radar 9 mi
- Independence, OR radar 10 mi
- Monmouth, OR radar 11 mi
- Sublimity, OR radar 13 mi
- Silverton, OR radar 13 mi
- Stayton, OR radar 14 mi
- Gervais, OR radar 14 mi
- Dallas, OR radar 14 mi