Helena Valley West Central, MT Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Helena Valley West Central, 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 West Central?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 61 days in the Gates of the Mountains forecast zone and Lewis and Clark County — the most common reported hazard around Helena Valley West Central, 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 |
| High winds | 11 | May 2026 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 9 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Wildfires | 6 | Jun 2025 | Jul 23, 2000 · $2.5 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 5 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Jun 2023 | — |
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 Gates of the Mountains forecast zone and Lewis and Clark County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Helena Valley West Central get?
A normal year brings about 37 inches of snow to Helena Valley West Central, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Helena Rgnl Ap weather station 5.9 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 West Central?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KTFX (Great Falls, MT), about 64 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 West Central | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KTFX Great Falls, MT | 64 mi north-northeast | 5,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMSX Missoula, MT | 95 mi west-northwest | 8,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KBLX Billings, MT | 174 mi east-southeast | 23,200 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 West Central
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 5 tornadoes within 25 miles of Helena Valley West Central. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F0 on July 22, 1960, which touched down about 5 miles south-southeast of town. The most recent was an F0 on June 27, 1997, which touched down about 6 miles south-southeast 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 West Central'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 West Central radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Helena Valley West Central, MT?
KTFX (Great Falls, MT), about 64 miles north-northeast. KMSX (Missoula, MT) is 95 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Helena Valley West Central?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Helena Valley West Central the lowest scan from KTFX is about 5,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Helena Valley West Central 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 West Central, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Helena, MT radar 5 mi
- East Helena, MT radar 8 mi
- Boulder, MT radar 29 mi
- Townsend, MT radar 35 mi
- Deer Lodge, MT radar 37 mi
- Whitehall, MT radar 55 mi
- White Sulphur Springs, MT radar 55 mi
- Three Forks, MT radar 58 mi
- Butte-Silver Bow (balance), MT radar 60 mi