Bison, OK Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Bison, Garfield County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Bison?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 166 days in the Garfield forecast zone and Garfield County — the most common reported hazard around Bison, mostly in June and May. Next come excessive heat (71 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (47 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 166 | Jun 2026 | Jun 1, 2007 · $2.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 71 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 47 | Jan 2026 | Jan 12, 2007 · 1 death · $5,000 damage |
| High winds | 27 | Mar 2025 | Jun 9, 2011 · $375,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 27 | Jun 2026 | Jul 19, 1997 · $1.0 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 20 | May 2019 | Sep 12, 1999 · $150,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 13 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 12 | Oct 2020 | Oct 26, 2020 · 1 death |
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 Garfield forecast zone and Garfield County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Bison get?
A normal year brings about 9.1 inches of snow to Bison, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Hennessey 4 Ese weather station 7.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (3.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.4 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 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 Bison?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KVNX (Vance AFB, OK), about 40 miles north-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 Bison | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KVNX Vance AFB, OK | 40 mi north-northwest | 2,600 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KTLX Oklahoma City, OK | 69 mi south-southeast | 5,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KICT Wichita, KS | 104 mi north-northeast | 10,200 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 Bison
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 152 tornadoes within 25 miles of Bison, 44 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F4 on May 3, 1999, which passed about 23 miles southeast of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on July 12, 2025, which touched down about 10 miles north of town.
Hail: 594 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 102 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 8.00-inch hail on April 26, 1971.
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 Bison'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.
Bison radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Bison, OK?
KVNX (Vance AFB, OK), about 40 miles north-northwest. KTLX (Oklahoma City, OK) is 69 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Bison?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Bison the lowest scan from KVNX is about 2,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Bison 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 Bison, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Hennessey, OK radar 6 mi
- Waukomis, OK radar 6 mi
- Enid, OK radar 15 mi
- North Enid, OK radar 17 mi
- Crescent, OK radar 24 mi
- Okeene, OK radar 24 mi
- Kingfisher, OK radar 24 mi
- Helena, OK radar 32 mi
- Fairview, OK radar 33 mi
- Okarche, OK radar 33 mi