Ralston, OK Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Ralston, Pawnee County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Ralston?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 114 days in the Pawnee forecast zone and Pawnee County — the most common reported hazard around Ralston, mostly in May and June. Next come excessive heat (56 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (37 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 114 | Jun 2026 | Sep 19, 2024 · 1 death · $100,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 56 | Jul 2025 | Jul 16, 2001 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 37 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 32 | Jun 2025 | May 7, 2007 · $350,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 10 | Oct 2020 | Dec 8, 2007 · $20 million damage |
| Flooding | 9 | Jun 2019 | — |
| Wildfires | 8 | Mar 2025 | Mar 13, 2025 · 1 death · $10 million damage |
| High winds | 6 | Mar 2025 | Mar 14, 2025 · $20,000 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 Pawnee forecast zone and Pawnee County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Ralston get?
A normal year brings about 7.1 inches of snow to Ralston, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Ralston weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually December (2.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 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 Ralston?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KINX (Tulsa, OK), about 69 miles east-southeast. 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 Ralston | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KINX Tulsa, OK | 69 mi east-southeast | 5,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KVNX Vance AFB, OK | 79 mi west-northwest | 6,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KTLX Oklahoma City, OK | 86 mi south-southwest | 7,700 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 Ralston
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 121 tornadoes within 25 miles of Ralston, 19 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an EF4 on May 6, 2024, which passed about 24 miles east-southeast of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on April 2, 2025, which passed about 24 miles northeast of town.
Hail: 398 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 55 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 13, 1985.
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 Ralston'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.
Ralston radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Ralston, OK?
KINX (Tulsa, OK), about 69 miles east-southeast. KVNX (Vance AFB, OK) is 79 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Ralston?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Ralston the lowest scan from KINX is about 5,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Ralston 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 Ralston, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Fairfax, OK radar 5 mi
- Pawnee, OK radar 11 mi
- Cleveland, OK radar 20 mi
- Hominy, OK radar 20 mi
- Ponca City, OK radar 24 mi
- Pawhuska, OK radar 25 mi
- Yale, OK radar 27 mi
- Newkirk, OK radar 32 mi
- Stillwater, OK radar 32 mi
- Tonkawa, OK radar 34 mi