Olanta, SC Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Olanta, Florence County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Olanta?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 157 days in the Florence forecast zone and Florence County — the most common reported hazard around Olanta, mostly in June and July. Next come lightning casualties & damage (16 days) and flash flooding (15 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 157 | Mar 2026 | Jul 16, 2016 · $255,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 16 | Jul 2017 | Sep 14, 1997 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 15 | Aug 2024 | Oct 8, 2016 · 1 death · $500,000 damage |
| Flooding | 14 | Jul 2024 | Oct 4, 2015 · $10 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 13 | Feb 2026 | — |
| High winds | 8 | Dec 2023 | Sep 5, 1996 · $330,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 4 | Jan 2026 | Jan 26, 2004 · $4.8 million damage |
| Hurricanes & tropical storms | 4 | Sep 2022 | Oct 8, 2016 · 2 deaths |
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 Florence forecast zone and Florence County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Olanta get?
A normal year brings about 1.6 inches of snow to Olanta, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Cades 4 W weather station 9.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (0.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 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 Olanta?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KCAE (Columbia, SC), about 68 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 Olanta | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KCAE Columbia, SC | 68 mi west | 5,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KLTX Wilmington, NC | 86 mi east | 7,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KCLX Charleston, SC | 109 mi southwest | 11,000 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 Olanta
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 84 tornadoes within 25 miles of Olanta, 18 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in April and May. The strongest was an EF3 on April 15, 2007, which passed about 18 miles west of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF1 on August 30, 2023, which touched down about 4 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 170 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 14 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 10, 2011.
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 Olanta'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.
Olanta radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Olanta, SC?
KCAE (Columbia, SC), about 68 miles west. KLTX (Wilmington, NC) is 86 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Olanta?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Olanta the lowest scan from KCAE is about 5,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Olanta 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 Olanta, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Lake City, SC radar 11 mi
- Timmonsville, SC radar 14 mi
- Florence, SC radar 19 mi
- Kingstree, SC radar 20 mi
- Pamplico, SC radar 21 mi
- Manning, SC radar 23 mi
- Darlington, SC radar 26 mi
- Sumter, SC radar 27 mi
- Bishopville, SC radar 27 mi
- Johnsonville, SC radar 29 mi