Orchards, WA Live Doppler Radar

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

What weather hits Orchards?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 9 days in the North Clark County Lowlands forecast zone and Clark County — the most common reported hazard around Orchards, mostly in June and October. Next come flooding (9 days) and lightning casualties & damage (4 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds9Jun 2026Oct 12, 2025 · $25,000 damage
Flooding9Nov 2022Jun 1, 2011 · $1.2 million damage
Lightning casualties & damage4May 2005Aug 4, 1999 · $15,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms1Feb 2025—

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 North Clark County Lowlands forecast zone and Clark County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

How much snow does Orchards get?

A normal year brings about 1.4 inches of snow to Orchards, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Battle Ground weather station 5.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (0.5 in).

OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
0.00.00.40.50.30.20.00.0

Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.

Which radars cover Orchards?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRTX (Portland, OR), about 21 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over OrchardsView
KRTX
Portland, OR
21 mi west1,200 ftExcellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KLGX
Langley Hill, WA
124 mi northwest13,400 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KATX
Seattle/Tacoma, WA
173 mi north23,000 ftLimited — 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 Orchards

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 27 tornadoes within 25 miles of Orchards, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in October and April. The strongest was an F3 on April 5, 1972, which passed about 5 miles south-southeast of town and caused 6 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on October 11, 2023, which touched down about 14 miles north-northwest of town.

Hail: 8 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on August 4, 1999.

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 Orchards'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.

Orchards radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Orchards, WA?

KRTX (Portland, OR), about 21 miles west. KLGX (Langley Hill, WA) is 124 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Orchards?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Orchards the lowest scan from KRTX is about 1,200 ft up — excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground.

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

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