Boulder, MT Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Boulder, Jefferson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Boulder?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 15 days in the Elkhorn and Boulder Mountains forecast zone and Jefferson County — the most common reported hazard around Boulder, mostly in April and October. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (11 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (8 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 15 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 11 | Sep 2025 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 8 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Wildfires | 6 | Nov 2024 | — |
| High winds | 6 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 3 | Jun 2023 | Jun 27, 2023 · $100,000 damage |
| Flooding | 3 | Jul 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 Elkhorn and Boulder Mountains forecast zone and Jefferson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Boulder?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KTFX (Great Falls, MT), about 91 miles north-northeast. 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 Boulder | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KTFX Great Falls, MT | 91 mi north-northeast | 8,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMSX Missoula, MT | 105 mi west-northwest | 10,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KBLX Billings, MT | 171 mi east | 22,400 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 Boulder
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 2 tornadoes within 25 miles of Boulder. The strongest was an F0 on June 27, 1997, which touched down about 24 miles north of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on August 6, 2023, which passed about 8 miles south of town.
Hail: 58 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 4 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on June 28, 1982.
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 Boulder'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.
Boulder radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Boulder, MT?
KTFX (Great Falls, MT), about 91 miles north-northeast. KMSX (Missoula, MT) is 105 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Boulder?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Boulder the lowest scan from KTFX is about 8,400 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Boulder 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 Boulder, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Whitehall, MT radar 25 mi
- Helena, MT radar 25 mi
- East Helena, MT radar 26 mi
- Townsend, MT radar 29 mi
- Deer Lodge, MT radar 31 mi
- Butte-Silver Bow (balance), MT radar 35 mi
- Three Forks, MT radar 36 mi
- Manhattan, MT radar 46 mi
- Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, MT radar 50 mi
- Belgrade, MT radar 55 mi