Elliston, MT Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Elliston, Powell County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for EllistonWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Elliston?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 163 days in the Butte/Blackfoot Region forecast zone and Powell County — the most common reported hazard around Elliston, mostly in February and November. Next come high winds (42 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (28 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Heavy snow & winter storms163Mar 2026Nov 24, 2015 · 1 death · $15,000 damage
High winds42Dec 2025Nov 12, 2007 · $650,000 damage
Extreme cold & wind chill28Feb 2025—
Damaging thunderstorm winds17Sep 2025May 6, 2017 · 1 death
Flooding13Jun 2018Jun 19, 2018 · $70,000 damage
Blizzards4Apr 2008—
Avalanches4Feb 2025Jan 6, 2012 · 1 death · $500 damage
Flash flooding2Aug 2014Aug 15, 2014 · $500 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 Butte/Blackfoot Region forecast zone and Powell County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

Which radars cover Elliston?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMSX (Missoula, MT), about 79 miles west-northwest. 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over EllistonView
KMSX
Missoula, MT		79 mi west-northwest6,800 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KTFX
Great Falls, MT		80 mi northeast6,900 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KBLX
Billings, MT		191 mi east-southeast27,000 ftLimited — 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 Elliston

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 7 tornadoes within 25 miles of Elliston. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F1 on June 28, 1982, which touched down about 15 miles southwest of town. The most recent was an F0 on June 27, 1997, which touched down about 21 miles east of town.

Hail: 90 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 7 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 Elliston'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.

Elliston radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Elliston, MT?

KMSX (Missoula, MT), about 79 miles west-northwest. KTFX (Great Falls, MT) is 80 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Elliston?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Elliston the lowest scan from KMSX is about 6,800 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.

Is TALON's radar for Elliston 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 Elliston, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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