Kelso, WA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Kelso, Cowlitz County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Kelso?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 21 days in the Cowlitz County Lowlands forecast zone and Cowlitz County — the most common reported hazard around Kelso, mostly in January and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (3 days) and debris flows (2 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 21 | Dec 2023 | Sep 17, 2020 · $250 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 3 | Jan 2021 | — |
| Debris flows | 2 | Apr 2023 | Apr 10, 2023 · $100,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 1 | Feb 2025 | Feb 13, 2025 · $44,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | Sep 2019 | — |
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 Cowlitz County Lowlands forecast zone and Cowlitz County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Kelso?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRTX (Portland, OR), about 28 miles south. 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 Kelso | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRTX Portland, OR | 28 mi south | 1,700 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KLGX Langley Hill, WA | 90 mi northwest | 8,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KATX Seattle/Tacoma, WA | 145 mi north | 17,200 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 Kelso
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 13 tornadoes within 25 miles of Kelso. Most came in October and November. The strongest was an F1 on June 29, 1989, which touched down about 19 miles south-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on October 28, 2024, which touched down about 5 miles west of town.
Hail: 1 report of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.00-inch hail on May 4, 2017.
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 Kelso'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.
Kelso radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Kelso, WA?
KRTX (Portland, OR), about 28 miles south. KLGX (Langley Hill, WA) is 90 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Kelso flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 21 days in the Cowlitz County Lowlands forecast zone and Cowlitz County. 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 Kelso 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 Kelso, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Winlock, WA radar 26 mi
- Battle Ground, WA radar 29 mi
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