Cooke City, MT Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Cooke City, Park County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Cooke City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 182 days in the Absaroka/Beartooth Mountains forecast zone and Park County — the most common reported hazard around Cooke City, mostly in February and March. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (80 days) and high winds (13 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 182 | May 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 80 | May 2026 | — |
| High winds | 13 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Avalanches | 10 | Dec 2022 | Feb 19, 2022 · 1 death |
| Wildfires | 7 | Oct 2012 | — |
| Flooding | 6 | Mar 2019 | May 24, 2011 · $130,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 1 | Apr 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 1 | Jul 2001 | — |
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 Absaroka/Beartooth Mountains forecast zone and Park County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Cooke City get?
A normal year brings about 213 inches of snow to Cooke City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Cooke City 2 W weather station 3.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (38.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13.4 | 26.5 | 37.9 | 38.8 | 29.7 | 31.0 | 22.4 | 9.0 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Cooke City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBLX (Billings, MT), about 86 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 Cooke City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBLX Billings, MT | 86 mi northeast | 7,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KRIW Riverton, WY | 153 mi south-southeast | 18,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KTFX Great Falls, MT | 183 mi north-northwest | 25,100 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 Cooke City
NOAA has no tornado on record within 25 miles of Cooke City since 1950.
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 Cooke City'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.
Cooke City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Cooke City, MT?
KBLX (Billings, MT), about 86 miles northeast. KRIW (Riverton, WY) is 153 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Cooke City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Cooke City the lowest scan from KBLX is about 7,600 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Cooke City 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 Cooke City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Red Lodge, MT radar 34 mi
- Columbus, MT radar 53 mi
- Livingston, MT radar 55 mi
- Big Timber, MT radar 56 mi