Colton, WA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Colton, Whitman County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Colton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 77 days in the Washington Palouse forecast zone and Whitman County — the most common reported hazard around Colton, mostly in January and December. Next come high winds (33 days) and flooding (22 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 77 | Feb 2026 | — |
| High winds | 33 | Dec 2025 | May 3, 2010 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 22 | Mar 2026 | Feb 12, 2014 · $600,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 18 | Sep 2024 | Jul 10, 1998 · $540,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 17 | Jul 2025 | Jul 2, 2025 · $1.4 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 10 | Apr 2026 | Apr 9, 2019 · $1.1 million damage |
| Dust storms | 8 | Sep 2024 | Aug 12, 2014 · $15,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 3 | Nov 2010 | — |
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 Washington Palouse forecast zone and Whitman County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Colton get?
A normal year brings about 33 inches of snow to Colton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Pullman 2 Nw weather station 13.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (10.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 4.6 | 10.3 | 9.6 | 4.8 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Colton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOTX (Spokane, WA), about 80 miles north-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 Colton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOTX Spokane, WA | 80 mi north-northwest | 6,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KPDT Pendleton, OR | 102 mi southwest | 10,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMSX Missoula, MT | 152 mi east-northeast | 18,600 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 Colton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 7 tornadoes within 25 miles of Colton, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F2 on May 8, 1962, which passed about 19 miles southeast of town. The most recent was an F0 on May 31, 1997, which touched down about 13 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 44 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 2 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.50-inch hail on July 20, 2012.
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 Colton'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.
Colton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Colton, WA?
KOTX (Spokane, WA), about 80 miles north-northwest. KPDT (Pendleton, OR) is 102 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Colton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Colton the lowest scan from KOTX is about 6,900 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Colton 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 Colton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Clarkston, WA radar 11 mi
- Pullman, WA radar 12 mi
- Asotin, WA radar 17 mi
- Pomeroy, WA radar 23 mi
- Palouse, WA radar 24 mi
- Colfax, WA radar 26 mi
- Dayton, WA radar 44 mi
- Waitsburg, WA radar 53 mi