Oso, WA Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Oso, Snohomish County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Oso?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 10 days in the Foothills and Valleys of the North Cascades forecast zone and Snohomish County — the most common reported hazard around Oso, mostly in November and January. Next come lightning casualties & damage (9 days) and debris flows (6 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooding | 10 | Dec 2023 | Jan 7, 2009 · $6.5 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 9 | Nov 2008 | Sep 15, 1996 · 1 death |
| Debris flows | 6 | Apr 2017 | Mar 22, 2014 · 43 deaths · $60 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 3 | Jun 2012 | Dec 14, 2010 · $30,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 1 | Apr 2017 | — |
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 Foothills and Valleys of the North Cascades forecast zone and Snohomish County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Oso get?
A normal year brings about 4.3 inches of snow to Oso, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Arlington weather station 11.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (2.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.2 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 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 Oso?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KATX (Seattle/Tacoma, WA), about 27 miles west-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 Oso | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KATX Seattle/Tacoma, WA | 27 mi west-southwest | 1,600 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KLGX Langley Hill, WA | 130 mi southwest | 14,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KRTX Portland, OR | 184 mi south-southwest | 25,500 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 Oso
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 5 tornadoes within 25 miles of Oso, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and November. The strongest was an F2 on May 13, 1986, which touched down about 8 miles southwest of town. The most recent was an F1 on May 18, 2005, which touched down about 16 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 1 report of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.00-inch hail on April 15, 2006.
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 Oso'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.
Oso radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Oso, WA?
KATX (Seattle/Tacoma, WA), about 27 miles west-southwest. KLGX (Langley Hill, WA) is 130 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Oso flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged river or areal flooding on 10 days in the Foothills and Valleys of the North Cascades forecast zone and Snohomish County. TALON's free flash-flood risk layer shows, every 2 minutes, how close the rain that has fallen is to what it takes to flood — turn it on under Layers.
Is TALON's radar for Oso 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 Oso, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Arlington, WA radar 13 mi
- Granite Falls, WA radar 14 mi
- Darrington, WA radar 14 mi
- Marysville, WA radar 18 mi
- Stanwood, WA radar 20 mi
- Mount Vernon, WA radar 20 mi
- Lake Stevens, WA radar 21 mi
- Sedro-Woolley, WA radar 21 mi
- Burlington, WA radar 23 mi
- Everett, WA radar 25 mi