Palouse, WA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Palouse, Whitman County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Palouse?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 77 days in the Washington Palouse forecast zone and Whitman County — the most common reported hazard around Palouse, mostly in January and December. Next come high winds (33 days) and flooding (22 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 77 | Feb 2026 | — |
| High winds | 33 | Dec 2025 | May 3, 2010 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 22 | Mar 2026 | Feb 12, 2014 · $600,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 18 | Sep 2024 | Jul 10, 1998 · $540,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 17 | Jul 2025 | Jul 2, 2025 · $1.4 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 10 | Apr 2026 | Apr 9, 2019 · $1.1 million damage |
| Dust storms | 8 | Sep 2024 | Aug 12, 2014 · $15,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 3 | Nov 2010 | — |
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 Washington Palouse forecast zone and Whitman County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Palouse get?
A normal year brings about 41 inches of snow to Palouse, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Potlatch 3 Nne weather station 11 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (13.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 5.2 | 10.6 | 13.1 | 7.6 | 3.1 | 1.3 | 0.2 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Palouse?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOTX (Spokane, WA), about 59 miles north-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 Palouse | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOTX Spokane, WA | 59 mi north-northwest | 4,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KPDT Pendleton, OR | 120 mi southwest | 12,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMSX Missoula, MT | 146 mi east | 17,400 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 Palouse
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 4 tornadoes within 25 miles of Palouse, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and August. The strongest was an F2 on August 30, 1971, which touched down about 13 miles west of town. The most recent was an F0 on September 14, 1986, which touched down about 12 miles north of town.
Hail: 27 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 1 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on August 11, 2022.
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 Palouse'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.
Palouse radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Palouse, WA?
KOTX (Spokane, WA), about 59 miles north-northwest. KPDT (Pendleton, OR) is 120 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Palouse?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Palouse the lowest scan from KOTX is about 4,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Palouse 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 Palouse, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Colfax, WA radar 11 mi
- Pullman, WA radar 13 mi
- Clarkston, WA radar 34 mi
- Pomeroy, WA radar 39 mi
- Asotin, WA radar 40 mi
- Cheney, WA radar 47 mi
- Liberty Lake, WA radar 52 mi
- Spokane Valley, WA radar 53 mi
- Medical Lake, WA radar 54 mi
- Millwood, WA radar 54 mi