Elbe, WA Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Elbe What TALON shows

What weather hits Elbe?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged lightning damage or injuries on 5 days in the Foothills and Valleys of Pierce and Southern King Counties forecast zone and Pierce County — the most common reported hazard around Elbe, mostly in September and February. Next come flooding (3 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (1 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Lightning casualties & damage	5	Sep 2013	Sep 5, 2013 · $5,000 damage
Flooding	3	Dec 2015	Jan 7, 2009 · $8.8 million damage
Damaging thunderstorm winds	1	May 2013	May 13, 2013 · $30,000 damage
Debris flows	1	Mar 2017	—

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 Foothills and Valleys of Pierce and Southern King Counties forecast zone and Pierce County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Elbe?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRTX (Portland, OR), about 81 miles south-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 Elbe	View
KRTX Portland, OR	81 mi south-southwest	7,100 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KLGX Langley Hill, WA	93 mi west-northwest	8,700 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KATX Seattle/Tacoma, WA	100 mi north	9,600 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation

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 Elbe

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 3 tornadoes within 25 miles of Elbe. Most came in October and September. The strongest was an EF1 on September 30, 2013, which touched down about 23 miles north-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on April 27, 2014, which touched down about 8 miles north-northwest of town.

Hail: 1 report of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.50-inch hail on September 1, 1997.

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 Elbe'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.

Elbe radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Elbe, WA?

KRTX (Portland, OR), about 81 miles south-southwest. KLGX (Langley Hill, WA) is 93 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Elbe?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Elbe the lowest scan from KRTX is about 7,100 ft up — fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation.

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

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