Fairfield, WA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Fairfield, Spokane County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Fairfield?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 102 days in the Spokane Area forecast zone and Spokane County — the most common reported hazard around Fairfield, mostly in January and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (45 days) and high winds (33 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 102 | Jan 2026 | Dec 1, 2023 · 1 death |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 45 | Oct 2025 | May 4, 2016 · $4.8 million damage |
| High winds | 33 | Mar 2026 | Nov 17, 2015 · 4 deaths |
| Wildfires | 26 | Jun 2026 | Aug 18, 2023 · 1 death · $60 million damage |
| Flooding | 22 | Feb 2025 | Mar 9, 2017 · $8.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 11 | Jun 2022 | Feb 25, 1999 · $500,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 10 | May 2023 | Jul 23, 2019 · $200,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Dec 2024 | Dec 10, 2024 · 1 death · $5,000 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 Spokane Area forecast zone and Spokane County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Fairfield get?
A normal year brings about 26 inches of snow to Fairfield, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Rosalia weather station 13.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (10.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 3.9 | 10.8 | 6.4 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 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 Fairfield?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOTX (Spokane, WA), about 29 miles 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 Fairfield | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOTX Spokane, WA | 29 mi northwest | 1,800 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KPDT Pendleton, OR | 142 mi southwest | 16,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMSX Missoula, MT | 152 mi east | 18,500 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 Fairfield
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 9 tornadoes within 25 miles of Fairfield, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and September. The strongest was an F2 on May 6, 1957, which touched down about 7 miles north of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 6, 2022, which touched down about 25 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 24 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 2 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on August 11, 2022.
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 Fairfield'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.
Fairfield radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Fairfield, WA?
KOTX (Spokane, WA), about 29 miles northwest. KPDT (Pendleton, OR) is 142 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Fairfield?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Fairfield the lowest scan from KOTX is about 1,800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Fairfield 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 Fairfield, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Spokane Valley, WA radar 19 mi
- Liberty Lake, WA radar 20 mi
- Cheney, WA radar 20 mi
- Millwood, WA radar 21 mi
- Spokane, WA radar 23 mi
- Airway Heights, WA radar 26 mi
- Medical Lake, WA radar 27 mi
- Colfax, WA radar 33 mi
- Palouse, WA radar 33 mi
- Deer Park, WA radar 42 mi