McKenna, WA Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for McKenna What TALON shows

What weather hits McKenna?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged lightning damage or injuries on 5 days in the Lowlands of Pierce and Southern King Counties forecast zone and Pierce County — the most common reported hazard around McKenna, 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 Lowlands of Pierce and Southern King Counties forecast zone and Pierce County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover McKenna?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLGX (Langley Hill, WA), about 74 miles west. 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 McKenna	View
KLGX Langley Hill, WA	74 mi west	6,200 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KRTX Portland, OR	87 mi south-southwest	7,700 ft	Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KATX Seattle/Tacoma, WA	87 mi north	7,800 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 McKenna

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 12 tornadoes within 25 miles of McKenna, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and September. The strongest was an F2 on November 10, 1965, which touched down about 23 miles southwest of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on October 4, 2019, which touched down about 17 miles west-southwest 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 McKenna'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.

McKenna radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to McKenna, WA?

KLGX (Langley Hill, WA), about 74 miles west. KRTX (Portland, OR) is 87 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near McKenna?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over McKenna the lowest scan from KLGX is about 6,200 ft up — fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation.

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

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