Jackson, MT Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Jackson, Beaverhead County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Jackson?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 54 days in the Northwest Beaverhead County forecast zone and Beaverhead County — the most common reported hazard around Jackson, mostly in August and July. Next come wildfires (13 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (10 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 54 | May 2026 | — |
| Wildfires | 13 | Jun 2025 | Sep 1, 2000 · $10,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 10 | Jun 2026 | — |
| High winds | 9 | May 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 5 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 3 | Jul 2013 | — |
| Flooding | 3 | Jan 2024 | Jan 16, 2024 · $100,000 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 Northwest Beaverhead County forecast zone and Beaverhead County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Jackson?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMSX (Missoula, MT), about 119 miles north-northwest. 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 Jackson | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMSX Missoula, MT | 119 mi north-northwest | 12,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KSFX Pocatello, ID | 160 mi south-southeast | 20,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KTFX Great Falls, MT | 174 mi north-northeast | 23,100 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 Jackson
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 6 tornadoes within 25 miles of Jackson, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in August and June. The strongest was an F2 on June 14, 1962, which touched down about 2 miles north-northeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on August 20, 2018, which touched down about 17 miles north of town.
Hail: 9 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on August 19, 2024.
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 Jackson'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.
Jackson radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Jackson, MT?
KMSX (Missoula, MT), about 119 miles north-northwest. KSFX (Pocatello, ID) is 160 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Jackson?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Jackson the lowest scan from KMSX is about 12,500 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Jackson 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 Jackson, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.