Fort Benton, MT Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Fort Benton, Chouteau County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Fort Benton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 81 days in the Western and Central Chouteau County forecast zone and Chouteau County — the most common reported hazard around Fort Benton, mostly in July and June. Next come high winds (28 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (8 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 81 | May 2026 | Jul 13, 2000 · $2,000 damage |
| High winds | 28 | May 2026 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 8 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 7 | May 2024 | May 7, 2024 · $194,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 4 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 2 | Jul 2011 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 1 | Jan 2023 | — |
| Wildfires | 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 Western and Central Chouteau County forecast zone and Chouteau County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Fort Benton get?
A normal year brings about 38 inches of snow to Fort Benton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Ft Benton weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually January (7.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.9 | 5.7 | 7.9 | 7.9 | 6.9 | 4.3 | 3.0 | 0.3 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Fort Benton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KTFX (Great Falls, MT), about 42 miles southwest. 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 Fort Benton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KTFX Great Falls, MT | 42 mi southwest | 2,900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMSX Missoula, MT | 165 mi west-southwest | 21,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KBLX Billings, MT | 167 mi southeast | 21,700 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 Fort Benton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 8 tornadoes within 25 miles of Fort Benton. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F1 on July 10, 1965, which touched down about 7 miles west-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on June 23, 2018, which touched down about 15 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 76 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 9 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on June 4, 2012.
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 Fort Benton'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.
Fort Benton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Fort Benton, MT?
KTFX (Great Falls, MT), about 42 miles southwest. KMSX (Missoula, MT) is 165 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Fort Benton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Fort Benton the lowest scan from KTFX is about 2,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Fort Benton 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 Fort Benton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Great Falls, MT radar 38 mi