Heart Butte, MT Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Heart Butte, Pondera County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Heart Butte?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged high winds on 78 days in the Northern High Plains forecast zone and Pondera County — the most common reported hazard around Heart Butte, mostly in February and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (21 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (7 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| High winds | 78 | May 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 21 | Aug 2025 | Jul 17, 2025 · $500 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 7 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 6 | Nov 2024 | — |
| Flooding | 6 | Mar 2019 | — |
| Blizzards | 3 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 2 | Jun 2013 | — |
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 Northern High Plains forecast zone and Pondera County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Heart Butte?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KTFX (Great Falls, MT), about 88 miles 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 Heart Butte | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KTFX Great Falls, MT | 88 mi southeast | 8,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KMSX Missoula, MT | 102 mi south-southwest | 9,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KOTX Spokane, WA | 226 mi west | 35,800 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 Heart Butte
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 2 tornadoes within 25 miles of Heart Butte. The strongest was an F1 on June 13, 2006, which passed about 25 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 32 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 2 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on June 23, 1971.
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 Heart Butte'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.
Heart Butte radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Heart Butte, MT?
KTFX (Great Falls, MT), about 88 miles southeast. KMSX (Missoula, MT) is 102 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Heart Butte?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Heart Butte the lowest scan from KTFX is about 8,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Heart Butte 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 Heart Butte, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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