Sparks, OK Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Sparks, Lincoln County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Sparks?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 95 days in the Lincoln forecast zone and Lincoln County — the most common reported hazard around Sparks, mostly in May and June. Next come excessive heat (75 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (32 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 95 | Jun 2026 | Mar 4, 2004 · $125,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 75 | Jun 2026 | Jul 1, 1996 · 2 deaths |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 32 | Jan 2026 | Jan 26, 2009 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 21 | Apr 2025 | May 24, 2016 · 1 death · $100,000 damage |
| High winds | 14 | Mar 2025 | Mar 8, 1999 · $1,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 12 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 9 | Oct 2020 | Dec 26, 2000 · $4.3 million damage |
| Flooding | 9 | Jul 2024 | May 21, 2019 · 1 death · $10,000 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 Lincoln forecast zone and Lincoln County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Sparks get?
A normal year brings about 2.2 inches of snow to Sparks, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Chandler weather station 7.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (0.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 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 Sparks?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KTLX (Oklahoma City, OK), about 32 miles southwest. 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 Sparks | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KTLX Oklahoma City, OK | 32 mi southwest | 2,000 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KINX Tulsa, OK | 80 mi east-northeast | 6,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KVNX Vance AFB, OK | 107 mi northwest | 10,600 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 Sparks
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 189 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sparks, 66 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F5 on May 5, 1960, which passed about 11 miles southeast of town and caused 5 deaths. The most recent was an EF3 on November 3, 2024, which passed about 12 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 485 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 69 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on May 27, 2017.
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 Sparks'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.
Sparks radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Sparks, OK?
KTLX (Oklahoma City, OK), about 32 miles southwest. KINX (Tulsa, OK) is 80 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Sparks?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Sparks the lowest scan from KTLX is about 2,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Sparks 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 Sparks, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Chandler, OK radar 7 mi
- Meeker, OK radar 10 mi
- Prague, OK radar 10 mi
- Stroud, OK radar 14 mi
- Shawnee, OK radar 18 mi
- Boley, OK radar 21 mi
- McLoud, OK radar 21 mi
- Luther, OK radar 21 mi
- Harrah, OK radar 23 mi
- Bethel Acres, OK radar 24 mi