Helena Valley Northwest, MT Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Helena Valley Northwest, Lewis and Clark County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Helena Valley Northwest?
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 Helena Valley Northwest, 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 Helena Valley Northwest get?
A normal year brings about 37 inches of snow to Helena Valley Northwest, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Helena Rgnl Ap weather station 9.7 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 Helena Valley Northwest?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KTFX (Great Falls, MT), about 60 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 Helena Valley Northwest | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KTFX Great Falls, MT | 60 mi north-northeast | 4,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMSX Missoula, MT | 94 mi west-northwest | 8,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KBLX Billings, MT | 176 mi east-southeast | 23,500 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 Helena Valley Northwest
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 5 tornadoes within 25 miles of Helena Valley Northwest. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F0 on July 22, 1960, which touched down about 9 miles south-southeast of town. The most recent was an F0 on June 27, 1997, which touched down about 10 miles south of town.
Hail: 90 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 Helena Valley Northwest'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.
Helena Valley Northwest radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Helena Valley Northwest, MT?
KTFX (Great Falls, MT), about 60 miles north-northeast. KMSX (Missoula, MT) is 94 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Helena Valley Northwest?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Helena Valley Northwest the lowest scan from KTFX is about 4,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Helena Valley Northwest 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 Helena Valley Northwest, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Helena, MT radar 9 mi
- East Helena, MT radar 12 mi
- Boulder, MT radar 34 mi
- Townsend, MT radar 38 mi
- Deer Lodge, MT radar 39 mi
- White Sulphur Springs, MT radar 56 mi
- Whitehall, MT radar 59 mi