Preston, ID Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Preston, Franklin County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Preston?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 30 days in the Franklin/Eastern Oneida Region forecast zone and Franklin County — the most common reported hazard around Preston, mostly in February and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (11 days) and high winds (9 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 30 | Mar 2026 | Mar 1, 2023 · $15,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 11 | Jun 2026 | Jun 1, 2015 · $10,000 damage |
| High winds | 9 | Mar 2026 | Mar 28, 2021 · $15,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 7 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 4 | Jun 2023 | Aug 9, 2017 · $25,000 damage |
| Flooding | 3 | Mar 2017 | Feb 5, 2017 · $1.7 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 2 | Jan 2025 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | Aug 2003 | — |
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 Franklin/Eastern Oneida Region forecast zone and Franklin County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Preston get?
A normal year brings about 52 inches of snow to Preston, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Preston weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually December (14.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 | 4.9 | 14.1 | 13.5 | 10.8 | 5.1 | 3.0 | 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 Preston?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMTX (Salt Lake City, UT), about 65 miles south-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 Preston | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMTX Salt Lake City, UT | 65 mi south-southwest | 5,100 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KSFX Pocatello, ID | 81 mi north-northwest | 7,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KRIW Riverton, WY | 186 mi east-northeast | 25,800 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 Preston
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 12 tornadoes within 25 miles of Preston. Most came in May and August. The strongest was an F1 on May 21, 1986, which passed about 19 miles west-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on July 25, 2007, which touched down about 20 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 23 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on June 26, 2009.
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 Preston'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.
Preston radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Preston, ID?
KMTX (Salt Lake City, UT), about 65 miles south-southwest. KSFX (Pocatello, ID) is 81 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Preston?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Preston the lowest scan from KMTX is about 5,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Preston 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 Preston, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Franklin, ID radar 7 mi
- Malad City, ID radar 20 mi
- Montpelier, ID radar 34 mi
- Soda Springs, ID radar 41 mi
- Pocatello, ID radar 61 mi