Rochester, WA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Rochester, Thurston County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Rochester?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 4 days in the Lowlands of Lewis and Southern Thurston Counties forecast zone and Thurston County — the most common reported hazard around Rochester, mostly in January and November. Next come lightning casualties & damage (3 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (1 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 4 | Jan 2021 | Jan 7, 2009 · $3.2 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | May 2003 | Sep 5, 2002 · $20,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 1 | May 2017 | May 4, 2017 · $700,000 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 Lowlands of Lewis and Southern Thurston Counties forecast zone and Thurston County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Rochester get?
A normal year brings about 3.9 inches of snow to Rochester, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Olympia Ap weather station 13 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (2.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 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 Rochester?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLGX (Langley Hill, WA), about 53 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 Rochester | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLGX Langley Hill, WA | 53 mi west-northwest | 3,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KRTX Portland, OR | 77 mi south | 6,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KATX Seattle/Tacoma, WA | 99 mi north-northeast | 9,400 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 Rochester
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 8 tornadoes within 25 miles of Rochester, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in October and May. The strongest was an F2 on November 10, 1965, which touched down about 11 miles southeast of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on October 4, 2019, which touched down about 9 miles east-northeast of town.
Hail: 1 report of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.50-inch hail on September 1, 1997.
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 Rochester'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.
Rochester radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Rochester, WA?
KLGX (Langley Hill, WA), about 53 miles west-northwest. KRTX (Portland, OR) is 77 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Rochester flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 4 days in the Lowlands of Lewis and Southern Thurston Counties forecast zone and Thurston County. 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 Rochester 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 Rochester, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Centralia, WA radar 8 mi
- Tenino, WA radar 10 mi
- Chehalis, WA radar 12 mi
- Tumwater, WA radar 14 mi
- Olympia, WA radar 17 mi
- Napavine, WA radar 18 mi
- Rainier, WA radar 19 mi
- McCleary, WA radar 19 mi
- Lacey, WA radar 20 mi
- Elma, WA radar 21 mi