Otter Lake, NY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Otter Lake, Oneida County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Otter Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 220 days in the Northern Oneida forecast zone and Oneida County — the most common reported hazard around Otter Lake, mostly in January and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (177 days) and flash flooding (54 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 220 | Mar 2026 | Feb 16, 2025 · $2.1 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 177 | Jun 2026 | May 29, 2013 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 54 | Mar 2026 | Jun 27, 2006 · $50 million damage |
| Flooding | 23 | Mar 2026 | Jun 28, 2013 · $3.0 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 22 | Jun 2021 | Jun 27, 2002 · 1 death |
| High winds | 20 | Dec 2021 | Feb 17, 2006 · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 20 | Feb 2026 | Jan 15, 2004 · $20,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 9 | Mar 2007 | Apr 4, 2003 · $4.0 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 Northern Oneida forecast zone and Oneida County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Otter Lake get?
A normal year brings about 158 inches of snow to Otter Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Old Forge weather station 10.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (46.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2 | 14.9 | 34.8 | 46.7 | 30.9 | 22.6 | 5.3 | 0.5 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Otter Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KTYX (Montague, NY), about 30 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 Otter Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KTYX Montague, NY | 30 mi west-northwest | 1,900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KENX Albany, NY | 88 mi southeast | 7,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KBGM Binghamton, NY | 106 mi south-southwest | 10,500 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 Otter Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 18 tornadoes within 25 miles of Otter Lake, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and August. The strongest was an EF3 on August 7, 2023, which passed about 16 miles west-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on September 4, 2025, which passed about 20 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 31 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 2 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on May 29, 2012.
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 Otter Lake'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.
Otter Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Otter Lake, NY?
KTYX (Montague, NY), about 30 miles west-northwest. KENX (Albany, NY) is 88 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Otter Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Otter Lake the lowest scan from KTYX is about 1,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Otter Lake 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 Otter Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Lowville, NY radar 23 mi
- Rome, NY radar 31 mi
- Oriskany, NY radar 32 mi
- Whitesboro, NY radar 34 mi
- Yorkville, NY radar 34 mi
- Utica, NY radar 35 mi
- New York Mills, NY radar 35 mi
- Camden, NY radar 36 mi
- Carthage, NY radar 36 mi