East Helena, MT Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for East Helena, Lewis and Clark County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits East Helena?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 61 days in the Helena Valley forecast zone and Lewis and Clark County — the most common reported hazard around East Helena, 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 |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 13 | Mar 2026 | — |
| High winds | 11 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Wildfires | 5 | Sep 2000 | Jul 23, 2000 · $2.5 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Jun 2023 | — |
| Debris flows | 3 | Jul 2025 | Jul 31, 2025 · $11,000 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 Helena Valley forecast zone and Lewis and Clark County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does East Helena get?
A normal year brings about 37 inches of snow to East Helena, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Helena Rgnl Ap weather station 2.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (7.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.8 | 5.4 | 7.7 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 4.6 | 2.9 | 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 East Helena?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KTFX (Great Falls, MT), about 66 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 East Helena | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KTFX Great Falls, MT | 66 mi north-northeast | 5,200 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMSX Missoula, MT | 103 mi west-northwest | 10,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KBLX Billings, MT | 166 mi east-southeast | 21,500 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 East Helena
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 5 tornadoes within 25 miles of East Helena. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F0 on July 22, 1960, which touched down about 4 miles west-northwest of town. The most recent was an F0 on June 27, 1997, which touched down about 5 miles west of town.
Hail: 80 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 9 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 East Helena'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.
East Helena radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to East Helena, MT?
KTFX (Great Falls, MT), about 66 miles north-northeast. KMSX (Missoula, MT) is 103 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in East Helena?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over East Helena the lowest scan from KTFX is about 5,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for East Helena 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 East Helena, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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