Sweetwater, OK Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Sweetwater, Beckham County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Sweetwater?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 107 days in the Beckham forecast zone and Beckham County — the most common reported hazard around Sweetwater, mostly in May and June. Next come excessive heat (47 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (33 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 107 | Jun 2026 | May 12, 2009 · $3.5 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 47 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 33 | Jan 2026 | Jan 19, 2007 · 1 death |
| High winds | 31 | Mar 2026 | Nov 15, 2006 · $70,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 10 | Oct 2020 | Dec 9, 2007 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 9 | May 2019 | May 23, 2015 · $500,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 8 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 5 | Aug 2022 | May 8, 2019 · $5,000 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 Beckham forecast zone and Beckham County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Sweetwater get?
A normal year brings about 5.9 inches of snow to Sweetwater, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Sweetwater weather station 1 mile away. The snowiest month is usually December (2.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 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 Sweetwater?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFDR (Frederick, OK), about 90 miles 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 Sweetwater | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFDR Frederick, OK | 90 mi southeast | 8,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KAMA Amarillo, TX | 102 mi west | 9,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KVNX Vance AFB, OK | 136 mi northeast | 15,500 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 Sweetwater
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 121 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sweetwater, 28 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F4 on May 25, 1955, which passed about 2 miles east-southeast of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 6, 2025, which touched down about 12 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 551 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 110 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 6, 2025.
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 Sweetwater'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.
Sweetwater radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Sweetwater, OK?
KFDR (Frederick, OK), about 90 miles southeast. KAMA (Amarillo, TX) is 102 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Sweetwater?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Sweetwater the lowest scan from KFDR is about 8,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Sweetwater 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 Sweetwater, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- New Cordell, OK radar 53 mi
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