Canyon Creek, MT Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Canyon Creek, Lewis and Clark County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Canyon Creek?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 61 days in the Gates of the Mountains forecast zone and Lewis and Clark County — the most common reported hazard around Canyon Creek, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (18 days) and flooding (14 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 61 | Sep 2025 | Jun 20, 2003 · $10,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 18 | Sep 2024 | Jul 3, 2022 · $700,000 damage |
| Flooding | 14 | Jun 2023 | Apr 9, 2023 · $100,000 damage |
| High winds | 11 | May 2026 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 9 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Wildfires | 6 | Jun 2025 | Jul 23, 2000 · $2.5 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 5 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Jun 2023 | — |
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 Gates of the Mountains forecast zone and Lewis and Clark County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Canyon Creek?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KTFX (Great Falls, MT), about 61 miles 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 Canyon Creek | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KTFX Great Falls, MT | 61 mi northeast | 4,700 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMSX Missoula, MT | 83 mi west-northwest | 7,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KBLX Billings, MT | 186 mi east-southeast | 25,900 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 Canyon Creek
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 5 tornadoes within 25 miles of Canyon Creek. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F0 on July 22, 1960, which touched down about 19 miles southeast of town. The most recent was an F0 on June 27, 1997, which touched down about 19 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 78 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 6 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on June 6, 1997.
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 Canyon Creek'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.
Canyon Creek radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Canyon Creek, MT?
KTFX (Great Falls, MT), about 61 miles northeast. KMSX (Missoula, MT) is 83 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Canyon Creek?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Canyon Creek the lowest scan from KTFX is about 4,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Canyon Creek 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 Canyon Creek, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Helena, MT radar 18 mi
- East Helena, MT radar 22 mi
- Deer Lodge, MT radar 36 mi
- Boulder, MT radar 40 mi
- Townsend, MT radar 48 mi