Fairfield, MT Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Fairfield, Teton County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Fairfield?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 42 days in the Eastern Pondera and Eastern Teton forecast zone and Teton County — the most common reported hazard around Fairfield, mostly in June and August. Next come high winds (32 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (10 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 42 | May 2026 | Jun 5, 2000 · $1,000 damage |
| High winds | 32 | May 2026 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 10 | Jan 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 6 | Jan 2020 | Jan 15, 2020 · $250,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 5 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Wildfires | 4 | Sep 2000 | — |
| Flash flooding | 3 | Jul 2021 | — |
| Blizzards | 1 | Mar 2026 | — |
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 Eastern Pondera and Eastern Teton forecast zone and Teton County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Fairfield get?
A normal year brings about 46 inches of snow to Fairfield, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Simms 1 Ne weather station 8.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually April (7.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.5 | 6.2 | 7.3 | 7.4 | 1.4 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Fairfield?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KTFX (Great Falls, MT), about 30 miles east-southeast. 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 Fairfield | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KTFX Great Falls, MT | 30 mi east-southeast | 1,800 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMSX Missoula, MT | 102 mi west-southwest | 9,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KBLX Billings, MT | 201 mi southeast | 29,400 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 Fairfield
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 8 tornadoes within 25 miles of Fairfield, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F2 on July 2, 1966, which touched down about 17 miles west-southwest of town. The most recent was an F1 on July 3, 1998, which touched down about 20 miles east of town.
Hail: 105 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 8 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on July 7, 2022.
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 Fairfield'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.
Fairfield radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Fairfield, MT?
KTFX (Great Falls, MT), about 30 miles east-southeast. KMSX (Missoula, MT) is 102 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Fairfield?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Fairfield the lowest scan from KTFX is about 1,800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Fairfield 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 Fairfield, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Choteau, MT radar 17 mi
- Great Falls, MT radar 33 mi
- Conrad, MT radar 39 mi
- Shelby, MT radar 62 mi