Onalaska, TX Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Onalaska, Polk County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for OnalaskaWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Onalaska?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 65 days in the Polk forecast zone and Polk County — the most common reported hazard around Onalaska, mostly in May and June. Next come flash flooding (34 days) and excessive heat (12 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds65Mar 2026Feb 10, 1998 · $18 million damage
Flash flooding34May 2024Aug 26, 2017 · $300 million damage
Excessive heat12Sep 2023—
Heavy snow & winter storms5Jan 2025Dec 22, 1998 · $15,000 damage
Ice storms & sleet4Feb 2021Jan 16, 2007 · $1,000 damage
Hurricanes & tropical storms4Sep 2008Sep 12, 2008 · $100 million damage
Flooding2May 2024May 1, 2024 · $3.1 million damage
Extreme cold & wind chill1Feb 2021Feb 15, 2021 · $450,000 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 Polk forecast zone and Polk County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Onalaska?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KHGX (Houston, TX), about 93 miles south. 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over OnalaskaView
KHGX
Houston, TX		93 mi south8,700 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KLCH
Lake Charles, LA		123 mi east-southeast13,200 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KPOE
Fort Polk, LA		129 mi east14,200 ftLimited — 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 Onalaska

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 63 tornadoes within 25 miles of Onalaska, 19 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and December. The strongest was an EF3 on April 22, 2020, which passed about 2 miles north of town and caused 3 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on April 28, 2024, which touched down about 13 miles west-northwest of town.

Hail: 128 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 8 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 9, 2019.

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 Onalaska'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.

Onalaska radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Onalaska, TX?

KHGX (Houston, TX), about 93 miles south. KLCH (Lake Charles, LA) is 123 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Onalaska?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Onalaska the lowest scan from KHGX is about 8,700 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.

Is TALON's radar for Onalaska 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 Onalaska, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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