Big Sandy, MT Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Big Sandy, Chouteau County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Big Sandy?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 81 days in the Western and Central Chouteau County forecast zone and Chouteau County — the most common reported hazard around Big Sandy, mostly in July and June. Next come high winds (28 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (8 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 81 | May 2026 | Jul 13, 2000 · $2,000 damage |
| High winds | 28 | May 2026 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 8 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 7 | May 2024 | May 7, 2024 · $194,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 4 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 2 | Jul 2011 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 1 | Jan 2023 | — |
| Wildfires | 1 | Mar 2026 | — |
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 Western and Central Chouteau County forecast zone and Chouteau County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Big Sandy?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KTFX (Great Falls, MT), about 77 miles 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 Big Sandy | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KTFX Great Falls, MT | 77 mi southwest | 6,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KGGW Glasgow, MT | 161 mi east | 20,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KBLX Billings, MT | 176 mi south-southeast | 23,500 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 Big Sandy
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 6 tornadoes within 25 miles of Big Sandy, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F3 on July 5, 1988, which passed about 14 miles southeast of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 10, 2023, which touched down about 16 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 32 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 3 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on June 9, 2021.
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 Big Sandy'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.
Big Sandy radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Big Sandy, MT?
KTFX (Great Falls, MT), about 77 miles southwest. KGGW (Glasgow, MT) is 161 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Big Sandy?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Big Sandy the lowest scan from KTFX is about 6,500 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Big Sandy 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 Big Sandy, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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