Odessa, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Odessa, Buffalo County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Odessa?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 110 days in the Buffalo forecast zone and Buffalo County — the most common reported hazard around Odessa, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (52 days) and high winds (48 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 110 | Aug 2025 | Jul 9, 2014 · $23 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 52 | Mar 2024 | Mar 20, 2006 · $200,000 damage |
| High winds | 48 | Mar 2026 | Dec 25, 2016 · $1.0 million damage |
| Blizzards | 15 | Mar 2025 | Nov 27, 2005 · $250,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 15 | Sep 2023 | Jul 8, 2019 · $25 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 11 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 11 | Aug 2019 | May 17, 2015 · $3.0 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 6 | Dec 2007 | Dec 29, 2006 · $5.0 million 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 Buffalo forecast zone and Buffalo County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Odessa get?
A normal year brings about 22 inches of snow to Odessa, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Kearney 4 Ne weather station 12.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (5.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 3.7 | 5.6 | 3.5 | 1.9 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Odessa?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 50 miles east-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 Odessa | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUEX Hastings, NE | 50 mi east-southeast | 3,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 111 mi northwest | 11,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 157 mi east-northeast | 19,500 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 Odessa
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 136 tornadoes within 25 miles of Odessa, 28 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on June 6, 1956, which touched down about 20 miles north-northeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on July 6, 2024, which touched down about 20 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 524 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 69 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 6.00-inch hail on June 12, 1990.
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 Odessa'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.
Odessa radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Odessa, NE?
KUEX (Hastings, NE), about 50 miles east-southeast. KLNX (North Platte, NE) is 111 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Odessa?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Odessa the lowest scan from KUEX is about 3,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Odessa 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 Odessa, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Kearney, NE radar 9 mi
- Holdrege, NE radar 19 mi
- Minden, NE radar 20 mi
- Gibbon, NE radar 22 mi
- Lexington, NE radar 26 mi
- Shelton, NE radar 28 mi
- Ravenna, NE radar 29 mi
- Wood River, NE radar 35 mi
- Cozad, NE radar 40 mi
- Alma, NE radar 42 mi