Big Lake, WA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Big Lake, Skagit County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Big Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 5 days in the Lowlands of Western Skagit and Northwestern Snohomish Counties forecast zone and Skagit County — the most common reported hazard around Big Lake, mostly in August and July. Next come flooding (5 days) and lightning casualties & damage (1 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 5 | Aug 2024 | Aug 11, 2024 · $103,000 damage |
| Flooding | 5 | Nov 2021 | Nov 28, 2021 · 1 death · $3.0 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | Jun 2007 | — |
| Debris flows | 1 | Nov 2014 | Nov 26, 2014 · $40,000 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 Lowlands of Western Skagit and Northwestern Snohomish Counties forecast zone and Skagit County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Big Lake get?
A normal year brings about 5.7 inches of snow to Big Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Sedro-Woolley weather station 6.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (3.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.7 | 3.7 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 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 Big Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KATX (Seattle/Tacoma, WA), about 18 miles 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 Big Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KATX Seattle/Tacoma, WA | 18 mi southwest | 1,000 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KLGX Langley Hill, WA | 124 mi southwest | 13,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KRTX Portland, OR | 188 mi south | 26,400 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 Big Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 4 tornadoes within 25 miles of Big Lake, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and November. The strongest was an F2 on May 13, 1986, which touched down about 15 miles southeast of town. The most recent was an F1 on May 18, 2005, which touched down about 14 miles south of town.
Hail: 1 report of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.00-inch hail on April 15, 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 Big Lake'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.
Big Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Big Lake, WA?
KATX (Seattle/Tacoma, WA), about 18 miles southwest. KLGX (Langley Hill, WA) is 124 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Big Lake flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 5 days in the Lowlands of Western Skagit and Northwestern Snohomish Counties forecast zone and Skagit 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 Big Lake 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 Big Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Mount Vernon, WA radar 3 mi
- Burlington, WA radar 6 mi
- Sedro-Woolley, WA radar 8 mi
- Stanwood, WA radar 11 mi
- Arlington, WA radar 16 mi
- Anacortes, WA radar 19 mi
- Oak Harbor, WA radar 19 mi
- Marysville, WA radar 22 mi
- Coupeville, WA radar 23 mi
- Granite Falls, WA radar 25 mi