Mackay, ID Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Mackay, Custer County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Mackay?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 22 days in the Lost River Valleys forecast zone and Custer County — the most common reported hazard around Mackay, mostly in July and May. Next come high winds (19 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (18 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 22 | May 2026 | Jul 3, 2008 · $420,000 damage |
| High winds | 19 | Jun 2026 | Dec 17, 2025 · $20,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 18 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 9 | Sep 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 8 | Jun 2023 | May 1, 2017 · $3.5 million damage |
| Wildfires | 6 | Jun 2021 | Jun 15, 2021 · $22,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 4 | Jan 2025 | — |
| Debris flows | 2 | Aug 2025 | — |
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 Custer County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Mackay get?
A normal year brings about 18 inches of snow to Mackay, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Chilly Barton Flat weather station 11.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (4.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.9 | 1.6 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 2.7 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 0.4 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Mackay?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KSFX (Pocatello, ID), about 73 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 Mackay | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KSFX Pocatello, ID | 73 mi southeast | 6,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KCBX Boise, ID | 134 mi west-southwest | 15,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMTX Salt Lake City, UT | 192 mi south-southeast | 27,400 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 Mackay
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 4 tornadoes within 25 miles of Mackay. Most came in May and July. The strongest was an F1 on May 21, 1992, which touched down about 19 miles southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on June 21, 2018, which passed about 7 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 11 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.25-inch hail on August 10, 2024.
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 Mackay'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.
Mackay radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Mackay, ID?
KSFX (Pocatello, ID), about 73 miles southeast. KCBX (Boise, ID) is 134 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Mackay?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Mackay the lowest scan from KSFX is about 6,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Mackay 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 Mackay, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Sun Valley, ID radar 39 mi
- Ketchum, ID radar 41 mi
- Hailey, ID radar 44 mi
- Bellevue, ID radar 44 mi