Butte City, ID Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Butte City, Butte County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Butte City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 87 days in the Lost River Valleys forecast zone and Butte County — the most common reported hazard around Butte City, mostly in August and July. Next come high winds (19 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (18 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 87 | Jun 2026 | Apr 22, 2009 · $4,000 damage |
| High winds | 19 | Jun 2026 | Dec 17, 2025 · $20,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 18 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 8 | Jan 2019 | Feb 4, 2017 · $265,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 6 | Jun 2021 | Jun 15, 2021 · $22,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 4 | Jan 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 3 | Aug 2014 | Jul 31, 1998 · $20,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | Jun 2025 | Jun 11, 2025 · $7,000 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 Lost River Valleys forecast zone and Butte County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Butte City get?
A normal year brings about 24 inches of snow to Butte City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Arco weather station 3.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (8.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 1.2 | 8.1 | 7.0 | 4.6 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.2 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Butte City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KSFX (Pocatello, ID), about 44 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 Butte City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KSFX Pocatello, ID | 44 mi southeast | 3,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KCBX Boise, ID | 150 mi west | 18,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMTX Salt Lake City, UT | 167 mi south-southeast | 21,600 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 Butte City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 7 tornadoes within 25 miles of Butte City. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F1 on July 18, 1987, which touched down about 17 miles west-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on June 21, 2018, which passed about 17 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 13 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.50-inch hail on September 9, 1985.
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 Butte City'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.
Butte City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Butte City, ID?
KSFX (Pocatello, ID), about 44 miles southeast. KCBX (Boise, ID) is 150 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Butte City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Butte City the lowest scan from KSFX is about 3,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Butte City 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 Butte City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Aberdeen, ID radar 50 mi
- Bellevue, ID radar 52 mi
- Blackfoot, ID radar 53 mi
- Hailey, ID radar 53 mi
- Sun Valley, ID radar 55 mi
- Ketchum, ID radar 57 mi
- Shelley, ID radar 58 mi
- American Falls, ID radar 60 mi
- Idaho Falls, ID radar 61 mi
- Chubbuck, ID radar 61 mi