Cowiche, WA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Cowiche, Yakima County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Cowiche?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 52 days in the Yakima Valley forecast zone and Yakima County — the most common reported hazard around Cowiche, mostly in December and January. Next come flooding (30 days) and high winds (28 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 52 | Feb 2024 | Nov 21, 2010 · 2 deaths |
| Flooding | 30 | Feb 2020 | Jan 7, 2009 · $1.6 million damage |
| High winds | 28 | Nov 2022 | Apr 14, 2002 · $100,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 23 | Jun 2024 | Feb 12, 2011 · $4.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 11 | May 2015 | May 9, 2005 · $3,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 10 | Aug 2022 | Jul 19, 2005 · 1 death |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 9 | May 2020 | Jul 8, 2012 · $20,000 damage |
| Dust storms | 7 | Mar 2012 | Mar 11, 2012 · $100,000 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 Yakima Valley forecast zone and Yakima County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Cowiche get?
A normal year brings about 20 inches of snow to Cowiche, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Yakima Air Terminal weather station 10.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (7.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 3.0 | 7.7 | 6.2 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 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 Cowiche?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPDT (Pendleton, OR), about 112 miles 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.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over Cowiche | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPDT Pendleton, OR | 112 mi southeast | 11,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KRTX Portland, OR | 126 mi west-southwest | 13,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KATX Seattle/Tacoma, WA | 134 mi northwest | 15,200 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 Cowiche
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 5 tornadoes within 25 miles of Cowiche, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F2 on April 30, 1957, which touched down about 11 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on April 7, 2008, which touched down about 11 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 4 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.00-inch hail on July 31, 2010.
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 Cowiche'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.
Cowiche radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Cowiche, WA?
KPDT (Pendleton, OR), about 112 miles southeast. KRTX (Portland, OR) is 126 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Cowiche?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Cowiche the lowest scan from KPDT is about 11,400 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Cowiche 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 Cowiche, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Tieton, WA radar 3 mi
- Naches, WA radar 4 mi
- Selah, WA radar 8 mi
- Yakima, WA radar 10 mi
- Union Gap, WA radar 13 mi
- Moxee, WA radar 17 mi
- Wapato, WA radar 21 mi
- Ellensburg, WA radar 24 mi
- Kittitas, WA radar 26 mi
- Toppenish, WA radar 28 mi