Local Weather Radar

Washington · Spokane County

Spokane Weather Radar

Live Doppler radar for Spokane, WA from the KOTX NEXRAD station, with hourly and 7-day forecasts. Keep this Spokane weather radar handy from late December into early January, when winter weather is usually most active. Radar may not show fog at all, so on still, gray winter days check the hourly forecast too.

Nearest radarKOTX · 9 mi

How will Spokane's temperature change today?

When is sunset in Spokane?

What's the 7-day forecast for Spokane?

What should you know about Spokane's weather?

NWS office
Spokane (OTX)
Climate
Warm-summer Mediterranean continental
Time zone
PST/PDT
Elevation
1,869 ft
Coordinates
47.66° N, 117.43° W
Nearest radar
KOTX · Spokane NEXRAD · 9 mi
County
Spokane County, WA
Yearly rain
17.4 in
Warmest month
July · 71.5°F average
Coldest month
December · 31.3°F average
Severe storm peak
May to Jul
Main radar risksWinter stormsExtreme coldWildfiresFloodingSevere thunderstorms

How much rain does Spokane get each month?

MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F37.842.551.359.669.775.887.186.276.060.345.136.9
Low °F25.826.731.736.644.150.456.054.546.838.030.725.7
Rain (in)2.001.321.821.501.701.480.670.540.681.462.012.18
MonthHigh °FLow °FRain (in)
Jan37.825.82.00
Feb42.526.71.32
Mar51.331.71.82
Apr59.636.61.50
May69.744.11.70
Jun75.850.41.48
Jul87.156.00.67
Aug86.254.50.54
Sep76.046.80.68
Oct60.338.01.46
Nov45.130.72.01
Dec36.925.72.18

SPOKANE FELTS FLD, WA US · 5 mi away · NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020

How bad was Spokane's 1996 ice storm?

It remains one of the most severe ice storms on record. Spokane was among the hardest hit areas when several hours of freezing rain on November 19, 1996, left up to an inch of ice on trees, roads, buildings and vehicles. The storm caused four deaths and over 22 million dollars in damage. Over 100,000 homes and businesses lost power, many for up to two weeks. Radar shows the rain but not whether it freezes on contact, so check the hourly temperature when rain falls in winter.

What happened in the November 2015 windstorm?

On November 17, 2015, a strong cold front sent a 71 mph gust through Spokane, a new record for a non-thunderstorm wind. In the hardest hit area of Spokane, 83% of customers were without power for 5 days after the storm. Spokane Public Schools canceled school for 5 days, and an estimated 28 trees were downed or seriously damaged in Riverfront Park. Radar shows precipitation rather than wind, and the front brought only light rain to much of eastern Washington, so check gust forecasts on windy days.

How much snow fell in Spokane in December 2008?

Enough to make it the snowiest month ever in Spokane. In the storm that began December 17, 19.4 inches fell at Spokane Airport in 24 hours, shattering the old record of 13.0 inches from January 1950, and the 2-day total was more than 23 inches. More heavy snow came on the 21st and again on Christmas Eve. Downtown ran out of places to put it, and multi-lane streets lost a lane to snow berms, which led to traffic jams.

Why can Spokane weather radar look blank on a foggy winter day?

Radar can only see particles within a certain size range, and fog is made of extremely small particles, so a reflectivity image may not show it. NWS Spokane notes that winter high pressure can bring fog, low clouds and low-level inversions, with warm air sitting on top of cold air. Without any wind, that layer can last for days and trap pollutants, which can lead to poor air quality. The Storm Events entry for Spokane County records 1 death and 8 injuries in a freezing fog event on November 27, 2013. On still, gray days, trust the hourly forecast and road reports over a blank radar.

When should you check the Spokane radar?

Severe storm peak

May to July

About 59% of the county's 1996 to 2025 severe reports fall from May to July. When storms build on the loop, hikers and paddlers at Riverside State Park head in early.

Peak winter weather

Late December to early January

Spokane tends to get more snow than average in neutral to weak La Nina winters and less in El Nino winters. In an active week, check the loop before driving up the South Hill.

What else do people ask about the Spokane radar?

Which NWS office and radar cover Spokane?

NWS Spokane (OTX) issues forecasts and warnings for Spokane. The nearest NEXRAD radar is KOTX, about 9 miles from the city center.

How often does the radar on this page update?

The radar loop on this page updates every 5 minutes.

Is this page an official warning service?

No. It shows radar and forecasts only. For warnings, follow NWS Spokane and local emergency alerts.

Quick facts
  • Radar: KOTX (Spokane NEXRAD), a new frame every 5 minutes
  • Forecasts and warnings: NWS Spokane (OTX)
  • Severe storms peak from May to July (NOAA Storm Events, 1996 to 2025)
  • Local time: PST/PDT
  • Radar: KOTX, a new frame every 5 minutes
  • Warnings: NWS Spokane (OTX)
  • Severe storms: May to July
  • Local time: PST/PDT

Where does this data come from?

By LOCAL WEATHER RADAR DEV TEAM, Seattle · Published · Updated · How we source data