Prairie Heights, WA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Prairie Heights, Pierce County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Prairie Heights?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged lightning damage or injuries on 5 days in the Foothills and Valleys of Pierce and Southern King Counties forecast zone and Pierce County — the most common reported hazard around Prairie Heights, 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 Foothills and Valleys of Pierce and Southern King Counties forecast zone and Pierce County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Prairie Heights get?
A normal year brings about 4.3 inches of snow to Prairie Heights, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Buckley 1 Ne weather station 5.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually November (1.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Prairie Heights?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KATX (Seattle/Tacoma, WA), about 74 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 Prairie Heights | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KATX Seattle/Tacoma, WA | 74 mi north-northwest | 6,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLGX Langley Hill, WA | 94 mi west | 8,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KRTX Portland, OR | 107 mi south-southwest | 10,700 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 Prairie Heights
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 10 tornadoes within 25 miles of Prairie Heights. Most came in June and September. The strongest was an EF1 on September 6, 2009, which passed about 3 miles north-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on April 27, 2014, which touched down about 21 miles south-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 June 8, 1972.
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 Prairie Heights'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.
Prairie Heights radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Prairie Heights, WA?
KATX (Seattle/Tacoma, WA), about 74 miles north-northwest. KLGX (Langley Hill, WA) is 94 miles away and also covers the area.
Can radar see a tornado near Prairie Heights?
Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Prairie Heights the lowest scan from KATX is about 6,200 ft up — fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation.
Is TALON's radar for Prairie Heights 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 Prairie Heights, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Buckley, WA radar 4 mi
- Bonney Lake, WA radar 4 mi
- Orting, WA radar 6 mi
- Enumclaw, WA radar 7 mi
- Sumner, WA radar 8 mi
- Puyallup, WA radar 9 mi
- Edgewood, WA radar 10 mi
- Pacific, WA radar 10 mi
- Algona, WA radar 11 mi
- Auburn, WA radar 12 mi