South Wenatchee, WA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for South Wenatchee, Chelan County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits South Wenatchee?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 83 days in the Wenatchee Area forecast zone and Chelan County — the most common reported hazard around South Wenatchee, mostly in December and January. Next come debris flows (30 days) and wildfires (25 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 83 | Jan 2025 | — |
| Debris flows | 30 | May 2023 | Aug 11, 2013 · $700,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 25 | Jul 2025 | Aug 2, 1998 · $90 million damage |
| Flooding | 25 | Mar 2026 | Jan 7, 2009 · $1.1 million damage |
| High winds | 23 | Mar 2026 | Jan 7, 2007 · $10 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 23 | Aug 2024 | Sep 5, 2013 · $700,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 12 | Aug 2024 | Aug 26, 1997 · $70,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 5 | Jul 2006 | Apr 16, 1996 · 1 death |
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 Wenatchee Area forecast zone and Chelan County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does South Wenatchee get?
A normal year brings about 17 inches of snow to South Wenatchee, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Wenatchee weather station 2.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (6.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 1.5 | 6.0 | 5.6 | 3.0 | 0.4 | 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 South Wenatchee?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KATX (Seattle/Tacoma, WA), about 116 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 South Wenatchee | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KATX Seattle/Tacoma, WA | 116 mi west-northwest | 12,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KOTX Spokane, WA | 126 mi east | 13,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPDT Pendleton, OR | 136 mi south-southeast | 15,500 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 South Wenatchee
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 3 tornadoes within 25 miles of South Wenatchee. Most came in May and July. The strongest was an EF0 on May 1, 2024, which touched down about 25 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 7 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.25-inch hail on July 5, 2006.
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 South Wenatchee'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.
South Wenatchee radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to South Wenatchee, WA?
KATX (Seattle/Tacoma, WA), about 116 miles west-northwest. KOTX (Spokane, WA) is 126 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in South Wenatchee?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over South Wenatchee the lowest scan from KATX is about 12,100 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for South Wenatchee 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 South Wenatchee, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- East Wenatchee, WA radar 2 mi
- Wenatchee, WA radar 3 mi
- Rock Island, WA radar 7 mi
- Cashmere, WA radar 12 mi
- Entiat, WA radar 20 mi
- Waterville, WA radar 20 mi
- Leavenworth, WA radar 22 mi
- Quincy, WA radar 23 mi
- Kittitas, WA radar 29 mi
- George, WA radar 29 mi