Alta, UT Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Alta, Salt Lake County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Alta?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 126 days in the Wasatch Mountains South of I-80 forecast zone and Salt Lake County — the most common reported hazard around Alta, mostly in July and August. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (44 days) and flash flooding (24 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 126 | May 2026 | Aug 1, 2006 · $2.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 44 | Feb 2026 | Feb 6, 2024 · $1.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 24 | Sep 2023 | Aug 3, 2023 · $16 million damage |
| Avalanches | 20 | Feb 2026 | May 9, 2024 · 2 deaths |
| Flooding | 13 | Oct 2025 | Jun 5, 2010 · $1.5 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 9 | Jul 2013 | Jul 25, 2002 · 2 deaths |
| High winds | 6 | Feb 2024 | Feb 27, 2024 · $5,000 damage |
| Debris flows | 2 | Apr 2023 | Apr 13, 2023 · $50,000 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 Wasatch Mountains South of I-80 forecast zone and Salt Lake County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Alta get?
A normal year brings about 458 inches of snow to Alta, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Alta weather station 1 mile away. The snowiest month is usually February (81.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24.4 | 53.9 | 79.8 | 74.7 | 81.2 | 71.4 | 50.0 | 15.9 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Alta?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMTX (Salt Lake City, UT), about 64 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 Alta | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMTX Salt Lake City, UT | 64 mi northwest | 5,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KSFX Pocatello, ID | 183 mi north-northwest | 25,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KGJX Grand Junction, CO | 209 mi east-southeast | 31,500 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 Alta
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 17 tornadoes within 25 miles of Alta, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in September and June. The strongest was an F2 on August 11, 1999, which passed about 17 miles northwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on September 2, 2021, which touched down about 25 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 84 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on August 13, 2024.
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 Alta'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.
Alta radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Alta, UT?
KMTX (Salt Lake City, UT), about 64 miles northwest. KSFX (Pocatello, ID) is 183 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Alta?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Alta the lowest scan from KMTX is about 5,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Alta 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 Alta, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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