Salmon, ID Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Salmon, Lemhi County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Salmon?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 82 days in the Eastern Lemhi County forecast zone and Lemhi County — the most common reported hazard around Salmon, mostly in December and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (34 days) and high winds (23 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 82 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 34 | Jun 2025 | Jun 19, 2025 · $70,000 damage |
| High winds | 23 | Dec 2025 | Dec 20, 2016 · $500,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 12 | Jun 2024 | Jun 30, 2024 · $250,000 damage |
| Flooding | 9 | Jan 2026 | Jan 29, 2023 · $50,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 8 | Feb 2023 | — |
| Avalanches | 4 | Feb 2017 | — |
| Debris flows | 4 | Aug 2023 | Aug 5, 2023 · $5,000 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 Eastern Lemhi County forecast zone and Lemhi County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Salmon get?
A normal year brings about 22 inches of snow to Salmon, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Salmon-Ksra weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually January (6.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 3.3 | 6.4 | 6.7 | 3.8 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Salmon?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMSX (Missoula, MT), about 129 miles north. 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 Salmon | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMSX Missoula, MT | 129 mi north | 14,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KSFX Pocatello, ID | 155 mi south-southeast | 19,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KCBX Boise, ID | 164 mi southwest | 21,000 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 Salmon
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 3 tornadoes within 25 miles of Salmon. Most came in June and August. The strongest was an F1 on June 1, 1956, which touched down about 2 miles north of town. The most recent was an F1 on June 15, 1987, which touched down near town.
Hail: 21 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on August 18, 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 Salmon'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.
Salmon radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Salmon, ID?
KMSX (Missoula, MT), about 129 miles north. KSFX (Pocatello, ID) is 155 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Salmon?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Salmon the lowest scan from KMSX is about 14,300 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Salmon 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 Salmon, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.