Richland, WA Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for RichlandWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Richland?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged high winds on 91 days in the Lower Columbia Basin of Washington forecast zone and Benton County — the most common reported hazard around Richland, mostly in February and November. Next come wildfires (28 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (24 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
High winds91Mar 2026Dec 17, 2012 · $560,000 damage
Wildfires28Sep 2020Jun 25, 2005 · $46,000 damage
Heavy snow & winter storms24Dec 2022Feb 4, 2019 · 1 death
Damaging thunderstorm winds21May 2020Jul 7, 2002 · $20,000 damage
Dust storms16Aug 2025Oct 10, 2015 · 1 death
Excessive heat14Jul 2024Jul 12, 2024 · 3 deaths
Flooding9Feb 2017Jan 8, 2009 · $453,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill7Dec 2022—

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 Lower Columbia Basin of Washington forecast zone and Benton County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Richland?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPDT (Pendleton, OR), about 46 miles south-southeast. 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 RichlandView
KPDT
Pendleton, OR		46 mi south-southeast3,200 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KOTX
Spokane, WA		124 mi northeast13,500 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KRTX
Portland, OR		181 mi west-southwest24,600 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 Richland

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 6 tornadoes within 25 miles of Richland, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F2 on June 26, 1958, which touched down about 23 miles southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on March 31, 2020, which touched down about 3 miles north-northeast of town.

Hail: 7 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 July 16, 1955.

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 Richland'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.

Richland radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Richland, WA?

KPDT (Pendleton, OR), about 46 miles south-southeast. KOTX (Spokane, WA) is 124 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Richland?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Richland the lowest scan from KPDT is about 3,200 ft up.

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

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