Soap Lake, WA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Soap Lake, Grant County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Soap Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged wildfire on 28 days in the Moses Lake Area forecast zone and Grant County — the most common reported hazard around Soap Lake, mostly in July and June. Next come high winds (25 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (20 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfires | 28 | Jul 2023 | Jul 10, 2023 · $710,000 damage |
| High winds | 25 | Dec 2025 | Dec 14, 2006 · $2.3 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 20 | Dec 2022 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 16 | Jun 2022 | May 31, 1997 · $200,000 damage |
| Dust storms | 15 | Mar 2026 | Oct 13, 2020 · 1 death · $20,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 8 | May 2023 | May 17, 2018 · $100,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Nov 2023 | Nov 19, 1996 · 1 death · $7.0 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 4 | May 2006 | Jul 7, 2002 · $150,000 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 Moses Lake Area forecast zone and Grant County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Soap Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOTX (Spokane, WA), about 89 miles east-northeast. 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 Soap Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOTX Spokane, WA | 89 mi east-northeast | 8,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KPDT Pendleton, OR | 121 mi south-southeast | 12,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KATX Seattle/Tacoma, WA | 150 mi west-northwest | 18,200 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 Soap Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 3 tornadoes within 25 miles of Soap Lake. Most came in May and July. The strongest was an EF0 on May 26, 2023, which touched down about 16 miles south of town.
Hail: 6 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on July 20, 2012.
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 Soap Lake'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.
Soap Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Soap Lake, WA?
KOTX (Spokane, WA), about 89 miles east-northeast. KPDT (Pendleton, OR) is 121 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Soap Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Soap Lake the lowest scan from KOTX is about 8,100 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Soap Lake 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 Soap Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Ephrata, WA radar 6 mi
- Quincy, WA radar 20 mi
- Moses Lake, WA radar 21 mi
- George, WA radar 28 mi
- Rock Island, WA radar 31 mi
- Waterville, WA radar 33 mi
- Royal City, WA radar 34 mi
- Warden, WA radar 36 mi
- East Wenatchee, WA radar 37 mi
- Wenatchee, WA radar 40 mi