Helena, OK Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Helena, Alfalfa County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Helena?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 100 days in the Alfalfa forecast zone and Alfalfa County — the most common reported hazard around Helena, mostly in May and June. Next come excessive heat (53 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (37 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 100 | Jun 2025 | Jun 5, 2008 · $500,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 53 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 37 | Jan 2026 | Dec 26, 2000 · $50,000 damage |
| High winds | 22 | Mar 2025 | Apr 14, 1999 · $5,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 17 | May 2019 | Sep 12, 2008 · $1.8 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 11 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 8 | Oct 2020 | Jan 30, 2002 · $25 million damage |
| Flooding | 3 | Sep 2008 | — |
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 Alfalfa forecast zone and Alfalfa County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Helena get?
A normal year brings about 13 inches of snow to Helena, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Helena 1 Sse weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually December (3.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 0.4 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 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 Helena?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KVNX (Vance AFB, OK), about 16 miles north-northeast. 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 Helena | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KVNX Vance AFB, OK | 16 mi north-northeast | 800 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KICT Wichita, KS | 89 mi north-northeast | 8,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KTLX Oklahoma City, OK | 101 mi southeast | 9,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
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 Helena
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 136 tornadoes within 25 miles of Helena, 38 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an F4 on May 2, 1979, which passed about 8 miles south-southwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on November 24, 2025, which touched down about 15 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 521 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 90 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 6.00-inch hail on June 3, 1993.
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 Helena'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.
Helena radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Helena, OK?
KVNX (Vance AFB, OK), about 16 miles north-northeast. KICT (Wichita, KS) is 89 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Helena?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Helena the lowest scan from KVNX is about 800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Helena 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 Helena, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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