Medical Lake, WA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Medical Lake, Spokane County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Medical Lake?
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 Medical Lake, 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 Medical Lake get?
A normal year brings about 48 inches of snow to Medical Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Spokane Wfo weather station 8.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (15.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 6.1 | 15.5 | 13.0 | 6.8 | 4.6 | 1.3 | 0.3 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Medical Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOTX (Spokane, WA), about 8 miles north-northeast. 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 Medical Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOTX Spokane, WA | 8 mi north-northeast | 400 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KPDT Pendleton, OR | 141 mi south-southwest | 16,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMSX Missoula, MT | 177 mi east | 23,900 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 Medical Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 18 tornadoes within 25 miles of Medical Lake, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F2 on May 6, 1957, which touched down about 24 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on April 18, 2024, which touched down about 9 miles northeast of town.
Hail: 17 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 3 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on July 10, 2023.
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 Medical Lake'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.
Medical Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Medical Lake, WA?
KOTX (Spokane, WA), about 8 miles north-northeast. KPDT (Pendleton, OR) is 141 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Medical Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Medical Lake the lowest scan from KOTX is about 400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Medical Lake 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 Medical Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Davenport, WA radar 22 mi
- Liberty Lake, WA radar 28 mi
- Deer Park, WA radar 30 mi
- Ritzville, WA radar 45 mi
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