O'Kean, AR Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for O'Kean, Randolph County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits O'Kean?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 68 days in the Randolph forecast zone and Randolph County — the most common reported hazard around O'Kean, mostly in May and July. Next come flooding (62 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (30 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 68 | May 2024 | Mar 6, 2022 · $100,000 damage |
| Flooding | 62 | May 2025 | Apr 1, 2008 · 1 death · $2.3 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 30 | Jan 2025 | Dec 13, 2000 · $100,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 30 | Aug 2018 | — |
| Flash flooding | 30 | May 2022 | May 3, 2017 · $3.0 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Feb 2013 | Jan 26, 2009 · $1.0 million damage |
| High winds | 3 | Aug 2019 | Jan 29, 2008 · $30,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 2 | Jul 2019 | Jul 5, 2019 · $100,000 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 Randolph forecast zone and Randolph County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does O'Kean get?
A normal year brings about 6.3 inches of snow to O'Kean, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Pocahontas 1 weather station 10.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (2.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 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 O'Kean?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KNQA (Memphis, TN), about 78 miles 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.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over O'Kean | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KNQA Memphis, TN | 78 mi southeast | 6,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLZK Little Rock, AR | 123 mi southwest | 13,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPAH Paducah, KY | 129 mi east-northeast | 14,300 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 O'Kean
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 106 tornadoes within 25 miles of O'Kean, 43 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in January and March. The strongest was an F4 on May 26, 1973, which passed about 25 miles south-southeast of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was an EF2 on April 2, 2025, which passed about 7 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 280 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 26 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on April 9, 2015.
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 O'Kean'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.
O'Kean radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to O'Kean, AR?
KNQA (Memphis, TN), about 78 miles southeast. KLZK (Little Rock, AR) is 123 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in O'Kean?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over O'Kean the lowest scan from KNQA is about 6,600 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for O'Kean 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 O'Kean, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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