Bessie, OK Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Bessie, Washita County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Bessie?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 139 days in the Washita forecast zone and Washita County — the most common reported hazard around Bessie, mostly in June and May. Next come excessive heat (42 days) and high winds (34 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 139 | May 2026 | May 26, 2004 · $100,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 42 | Jun 2026 | — |
| High winds | 34 | Mar 2026 | Nov 15, 2006 · $30,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 34 | Jan 2026 | Jan 12, 2007 · 7 deaths · $5,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 11 | May 2019 | Jun 8, 2002 · $20,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 10 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 8 | Oct 2020 | Nov 27, 2015 · $616,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Aug 2006 | Aug 21, 2006 · $15,000 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 Washita forecast zone and Washita County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Bessie get?
A normal year brings about 6.4 inches of snow to Bessie, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Cordell weather station 5.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (1.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 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 Bessie?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFDR (Frederick, OK), about 71 miles south. 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 Bessie | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFDR Frederick, OK | 71 mi south | 5,800 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KTLX Oklahoma City, OK | 97 mi east | 9,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KVNX Vance AFB, OK | 105 mi north-northeast | 10,400 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 Bessie
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 134 tornadoes within 25 miles of Bessie, 31 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F4 on May 25, 1962, which passed about 8 miles southwest of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on November 18, 2024, which touched down about 6 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 594 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 120 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 6.00-inch hail on May 23, 2011.
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 Bessie'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.
Bessie radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Bessie, OK?
KFDR (Frederick, OK), about 71 miles south. KTLX (Oklahoma City, OK) is 97 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Bessie?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Bessie the lowest scan from KFDR is about 5,800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Bessie 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 Bessie, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- New Cordell, OK radar 6 mi
- Clinton, OK radar 8 mi
- Burns Flat, OK radar 11 mi
- Weatherford, OK radar 20 mi
- Elk City, OK radar 25 mi
- Hobart, OK radar 26 mi
- Thomas, OK radar 29 mi
- Carnegie, OK radar 29 mi
- Hinton, OK radar 36 mi
- Sayre, OK radar 37 mi