Sunriver, OR Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Sunriver, Deschutes County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Sunriver?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 65 days in the East Slopes of the Oregon Cascades forecast zone and Deschutes County — the most common reported hazard around Sunriver, mostly in December and February. Next come wildfires (24 days) and lightning casualties & damage (18 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 65 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Wildfires | 24 | Oct 2020 | Aug 1, 2013 · 1 death |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 18 | Aug 2019 | Jun 29, 1997 · $1.5 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 18 | Aug 2025 | Jul 29, 1998 · $200,000 damage |
| High winds | 17 | Nov 2022 | Nov 19, 2012 · $120,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 8 | May 2015 | Jul 17, 2000 · $10,000 damage |
| Flooding | 6 | Jun 2021 | Jul 1, 2019 · $6,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 3 | 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 East Slopes of the Oregon Cascades forecast zone and Deschutes County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Sunriver get?
A normal year brings about 22 inches of snow to Sunriver, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Bend weather station 14.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (6.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 2.0 | 5.3 | 6.4 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 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 Sunriver?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMAX (Medford, OR), about 140 miles south-southwest. 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 Sunriver | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMAX Medford, OR | 140 mi south-southwest | 16,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KRTX Portland, OR | 147 mi north-northwest | 17,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPDT Pendleton, OR | 178 mi northeast | 24,000 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 Sunriver
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 4 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sunriver. Most came in June and August. The strongest was an F1 on August 22, 1989, which touched down about 18 miles northeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on April 13, 2017, which touched down about 12 miles northeast of town.
Hail: 79 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 4 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on May 30, 2020.
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 Sunriver'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.
Sunriver radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Sunriver, OR?
KMAX (Medford, OR), about 140 miles south-southwest. KRTX (Portland, OR) is 147 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Sunriver?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Sunriver the lowest scan from KMAX is about 16,300 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Sunriver 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 Sunriver, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Bend, OR radar 14 mi
- La Pine, OR radar 14 mi
- Sisters, OR radar 29 mi
- Redmond, OR radar 29 mi
- Prineville, OR radar 41 mi
- Culver, OR radar 46 mi
- Metolius, OR radar 50 mi
- Oakridge, OR radar 52 mi
- Madras, OR radar 56 mi