Fords Prairie, WA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Fords Prairie, Lewis County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Fords Prairie?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 8 days in the Lowlands of Lewis and Southern Thurston Counties forecast zone and Lewis County — the most common reported hazard around Fords Prairie, mostly in January and November. Next come lightning casualties & damage (3 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 8 | Nov 2021 | Nov 4, 2006 · 2 deaths · $8.8 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Sep 2013 | Aug 5, 2002 · $2,000 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 Lowlands of Lewis and Southern Thurston Counties forecast zone and Lewis County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Fords Prairie get?
A normal year brings about 3.7 inches of snow to Fords Prairie, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Doty 3 E weather station 12.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (1.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 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 Fords Prairie?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLGX (Langley Hill, WA), about 58 miles west-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 Fords Prairie | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLGX Langley Hill, WA | 58 mi west-northwest | 4,300 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KRTX Portland, OR | 71 mi south | 5,800 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KATX Seattle/Tacoma, WA | 103 mi north-northeast | 10,000 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 Fords Prairie
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 8 tornadoes within 25 miles of Fords Prairie, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in October and May. The strongest was an F2 on November 10, 1965, which touched down about 6 miles southeast of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on October 4, 2019, which touched down about 9 miles northeast 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 Fords Prairie'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.
Fords Prairie radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Fords Prairie, WA?
KLGX (Langley Hill, WA), about 58 miles west-northwest. KRTX (Portland, OR) is 71 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Fords Prairie flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 8 days in the Lowlands of Lewis and Southern Thurston Counties forecast zone and Lewis County; the deadliest was on November 4, 2006, with 2 deaths. TALON's free flash-flood risk layer shows, every 2 minutes, how close the rain that has fallen is to what it takes to flood — turn it on under Layers.
Is TALON's radar for Fords Prairie 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 Fords Prairie, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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