Oldtown, ID Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Oldtown, Bonner County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Oldtown?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 277 days in the Northern Panhandle forecast zone and Bonner County — the most common reported hazard around Oldtown, mostly in December and January. Next come wildfires (30 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (26 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 277 | Mar 2026 | Dec 18, 1999 · $200,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 30 | Oct 2025 | Sep 1, 2025 · $18 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 26 | Sep 2024 | Sep 25, 2024 · 1 death · $10,000 damage |
| High winds | 24 | Apr 2026 | Nov 17, 2015 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 21 | Dec 2025 | Jun 1, 1997 · $4.0 million damage |
| Debris flows | 10 | Jan 2023 | Apr 6, 2011 · $800,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 8 | Feb 2014 | Jan 11, 1998 · $50,000 damage |
| Avalanches | 3 | Mar 2024 | Feb 22, 2003 · 2 deaths |
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 Northern Panhandle forecast zone and Bonner County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Oldtown get?
A normal year brings about 74 inches of snow to Oldtown, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Priest Rvr Exp Stn weather station 14.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (25.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 9.2 | 25.7 | 21.8 | 11.3 | 5.4 | 0.3 | 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 Oldtown?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOTX (Spokane, WA), about 45 miles southwest. 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 Oldtown | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOTX Spokane, WA | 45 mi southwest | 3,100 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMSX Missoula, MT | 162 mi east-southeast | 20,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPDT Pendleton, OR | 193 mi south-southwest | 27,400 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 Oldtown
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 4 tornadoes within 25 miles of Oldtown, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and August. The strongest was an F2 on April 9, 1991, which touched down about 5 miles east of town. The most recent was an F0 on June 25, 2004, which passed about 20 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 25 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 2 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on June 17, 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 Oldtown'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.
Oldtown radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Oldtown, ID?
KOTX (Spokane, WA), about 45 miles southwest. KMSX (Missoula, MT) is 162 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Oldtown?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Oldtown the lowest scan from KOTX is about 3,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Oldtown 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 Oldtown, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Priest River, ID radar 5 mi
- Spirit Lake, ID radar 16 mi
- Dover, ID radar 20 mi
- Sandpoint, ID radar 22 mi
- Ponderay, ID radar 24 mi
- Kootenai, ID radar 25 mi
- Rathdrum, ID radar 27 mi
- Hayden, ID radar 30 mi
- Post Falls, ID radar 32 mi
- Dalton Gardens, ID radar 33 mi