Montesano, WA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Montesano, Grays Harbor County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Montesano?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 6 days in the Middle Chehalis River Valley forecast zone and Grays Harbor County — the most common reported hazard around Montesano, mostly in January and November. Next come storm surge (3 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (1 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 6 | Jan 2022 | Jan 6, 2022 · 2 deaths · $3.4 million damage |
| Storm surge | 3 | Nov 2002 | Mar 3, 1999 · $1.0 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 1 | Dec 2010 | — |
| Debris flows | 1 | Jan 2015 | Jan 5, 2015 · $300,000 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 Middle Chehalis River Valley forecast zone and Grays Harbor County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Montesano?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLGX (Langley Hill, WA), about 26 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 Montesano | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLGX Langley Hill, WA | 26 mi west-northwest | 1,500 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KRTX Portland, OR | 95 mi south-southeast | 8,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KATX Seattle/Tacoma, WA | 96 mi north-northeast | 9,000 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 Montesano
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 1 tornado within 25 miles of Montesano. The strongest was an F0 on August 26, 1997, which touched down about 5 miles east-southeast of town.
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 Montesano'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.
Montesano radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Montesano, WA?
KLGX (Langley Hill, WA), about 26 miles west-northwest. KRTX (Portland, OR) is 95 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Montesano flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 6 days in the Middle Chehalis River Valley forecast zone and Grays Harbor County; the deadliest was on January 6, 2022, 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 Montesano 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 Montesano, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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