Odessa, TX Live Doppler Radar
Watch storms move over Odessa in real time — every NWS radar combined, storm tracks, official warnings, and the closest radar's full 250 m detail.
Which radars cover Odessa?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar to Odessa, TX is KMAF (Midland/Odessa), about 12 miles to the east-northeast. Radar beams climb as they travel because the Earth curves away underneath them, so the height of the lowest scan over a city decides how much of a storm's base the radar can see.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over Odessa | View of low-level rotation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMAF Midland/Odessa, TX | 12 mi east-northeast | 700 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan is close to the ground, where tornadoes form |
| KSJT San Angelo, TX | 115 mi east-southeast | 11,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLBB Lubbock, TX | 129 mi north-northeast | 14,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
Beam height is the center of the 0.5° scan above the radar, using standard atmospheric refraction. Hills and buildings near the radar can block it further.
On TALON you get Odessa's live radar loop, storm tracks with arrival times and NWS warnings free; close-up radar and rotation detection are part of TALON Pro.
Tornado & hail history near Odessa
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 82 tornadoes within 25 miles of Odessa, 10 of them rated EF2/F2 or stronger. They have been most common in May and June. The strongest was an EF3 on May 20, 2019, which passed about 9 miles south-southeast of the city. The most recent was an EF2 on May 30, 2024, which passed about 8 miles east of the city.
Hail: 606 reports of hail 1 inch or larger within 25 miles of Odessa since 1955, 111 of them 2 inches or larger. The largest was 5.00-inch hail (grapefruit size) on June 14, 2017.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 82 |
| EF2/F2 or stronger | 10 |
| Strongest tornado | EF3 · May 2019 |
| Busiest tornado month | May |
| Largest hail | 5.00 in · Jun 2017 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database — tornadoes 1950–2025, hail 1955–2025 (the latest year is preliminary). Distances are to each tornado's recorded track; ratings before February 2007 use the original Fujita (F) scale.
Odessa radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Odessa?
KMAF near Midland/Odessa, TX, about 12 miles away. A second radar, KSJT (San Angelo), is 115 miles away and also covers the area.
Can radar see a tornado over Odessa?
Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it can see the rotating storm and, once a tornado is lofting debris, a debris signature. Over Odessa the lowest scan from KMAF is roughly 700 ft up. Excellent — the lowest scan is close to the ground, where tornadoes form. TALON combines that with NOAA's ProbSevere model to flag storms most likely to produce tornadoes.
How often do tornadoes hit Odessa?
NOAA records show 82 tornadoes within 25 miles of Odessa since 1950 — about 1.1 a year on average, most often in May and June. Most were weak, but 10 were EF2/F2 or stronger.
Should I rely on radar for my safety?
No app replaces official warnings. When the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning for Odessa, take shelter right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby cities
- Midland, TX radar 20 mi
- Lubbock, TX radar 123 mi
- Abilene, TX radar 160 mi
- Amarillo, TX radar 235 mi
- El Paso, TX radar 242 mi
- Wichita Falls, TX radar 266 mi