Laurel, MT Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Laurel, Yellowstone County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for Laurel What TALON shows

What weather hits Laurel?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 135 days in the Southwestern Yellowstone forecast zone and Yellowstone County — the most common reported hazard around Laurel, mostly in July and August. Next come high winds (29 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (16 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds	135	Jun 2026	Aug 11, 2019 · $2.5 million damage
High winds	29	May 2026	—
Heavy snow & winter storms	16	Mar 2026	—
Flash flooding	16	Jun 2023	Jun 20, 2010 · $2.7 million damage
Flooding	13	Jul 2025	May 21, 2011 · 1 death · $300,000 damage
Lightning casualties & damage	4	Jul 2009	Jul 4, 2009 · 1 death
Wildfires	1	Aug 1998	—

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 Southwestern Yellowstone forecast zone and Yellowstone County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

How much snow does Laurel get?

A normal year brings about 48 inches of snow to Laurel, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Billings Wfo weather station 11.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (9.6 in).

Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May
3.5	5.6	8.7	9.2	9.6	7.2	3.7	0.4

Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.

Which radars cover Laurel?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBLX (Billings, MT), about 15 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 Laurel	View
KBLX Billings, MT	15 mi north-northeast	800 ft	Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground
KTFX Great Falls, MT	175 mi northwest	23,400 ft	Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KRIW Riverton, WY	181 mi south	24,700 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 Laurel

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 17 tornadoes within 25 miles of Laurel, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F3 on June 16, 1965, which passed about 16 miles east-northeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on June 6, 2011, which touched down about 11 miles north of town.

Hail: 313 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 33 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.50-inch hail on June 24, 1991.

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 Laurel'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.

Laurel radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Laurel, MT?

KBLX (Billings, MT), about 15 miles north-northeast. KTFX (Great Falls, MT) is 175 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Laurel?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Laurel the lowest scan from KBLX is about 800 ft up.

Is TALON's radar for Laurel 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 Laurel, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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