Ponca City, OK Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Ponca City, Kay County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Ponca City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 190 days in the Kay forecast zone and Kay County — the most common reported hazard around Ponca City, mostly in June and May. Next come excessive heat (79 days) and flash flooding (49 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 190 | Jun 2026 | Aug 17, 2009 · $900,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 79 | Jun 2026 | Jul 30, 1999 · 3 deaths |
| Flash flooding | 49 | Jun 2026 | Jun 22, 2026 · $10,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 46 | Jan 2026 | Dec 26, 2000 · $100,000 damage |
| High winds | 19 | Mar 2025 | Apr 11, 2001 · $75,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 13 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 13 | May 2019 | Apr 11, 1997 · 1 death |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 12 | Aug 2008 | Jun 12, 2002 · $50,000 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 Kay forecast zone and Kay County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Ponca City get?
A normal year brings about 7.9 inches of snow to Ponca City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Blackwell 1Ssw weather station 13 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (2.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.1 | 2.6 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 0.1 | 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 Ponca City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KVNX (Vance AFB, OK), about 59 miles west. 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 Ponca City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KVNX Vance AFB, OK | 59 mi west | 4,400 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KICT Wichita, KS | 68 mi north-northwest | 5,400 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KINX Tulsa, OK | 92 mi east-southeast | 8,400 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 Ponca City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 166 tornadoes within 25 miles of Ponca City, 37 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F5 on May 25, 1955, which passed about 12 miles north-northwest of town and caused 80 deaths. The most recent was an EF0 on May 6, 2024, which touched down about 2 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 586 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 76 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.75-inch hail on May 10, 2010.
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 Ponca City'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.
Ponca City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Ponca City, OK?
KVNX (Vance AFB, OK), about 59 miles west. KICT (Wichita, KS) is 68 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Ponca City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Ponca City the lowest scan from KVNX is about 4,400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Ponca City 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 Ponca City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Newkirk, OK radar 11 mi
- Blackwell, OK radar 14 mi
- Tonkawa, OK radar 14 mi
- Fairfax, OK radar 23 mi
- Pawnee, OK radar 30 mi
- Perry, OK radar 33 mi
- Stillwater, OK radar 41 mi
- Pawhuska, OK radar 41 mi
- Hominy, OK radar 43 mi
- Cleveland, OK radar 44 mi