Coulee Dam, WA Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Coulee Dam, Okanogan County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for Coulee DamWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Coulee Dam?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 46 days in the Upper Columbia Basin forecast zone and Okanogan County — the most common reported hazard around Coulee Dam, mostly in January and December. Next come flash flooding (30 days) and debris flows (28 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Heavy snow & winter storms46Apr 2023Feb 4, 2020 · 1 death
Flash flooding30Jul 2023Jul 12, 2001 · 1 death · $1.5 million damage
Debris flows28Aug 2024Mar 14, 2017 · $80,000 damage
Flooding26May 2023May 5, 2018 · $12 million damage
Damaging thunderstorm winds26Sep 2024May 24, 2001 · $1.1 million damage
Wildfires24Jun 2026Jul 9, 2001 · 4 deaths
Dust storms22Apr 2025Sep 7, 2020 · $150,000 damage
High winds15Apr 2022Apr 4, 2022 · $5.3 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 Upper Columbia Basin forecast zone and Okanogan County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Coulee Dam?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOTX (Spokane, WA), about 66 miles east-southeast. 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over Coulee DamView
KOTX
Spokane, WA		66 mi east-southeast5,200 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KPDT
Pendleton, OR		158 mi south19,700 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KATX
Seattle/Tacoma, WA		163 mi west20,800 ftLimited — 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 Coulee Dam

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 10 tornadoes within 25 miles of Coulee Dam, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F2 on April 5, 1972, which touched down about 19 miles south-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on July 10, 2023, which touched down about 18 miles southeast of town.

Hail: 7 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.50-inch hail on July 1, 2008.

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 Coulee Dam'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.

Coulee Dam radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Coulee Dam, WA?

KOTX (Spokane, WA), about 66 miles east-southeast. KPDT (Pendleton, OR) is 158 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Coulee Dam?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Coulee Dam the lowest scan from KOTX is about 5,200 ft up.

Is TALON's radar for Coulee Dam 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 Coulee Dam, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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