McAllister, MT Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for McAllister, Madison County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits McAllister?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged high winds on 37 days in the Madison River Valley forecast zone and Madison County — the most common reported hazard around McAllister, mostly in December and November. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (30 days) and flooding (9 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| High winds | 37 | Jun 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 30 | May 2026 | Jul 1, 2023 · $20,000 damage |
| Flooding | 9 | Jun 2020 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 7 | Oct 2023 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 3 | Jan 2024 | — |
| Wildfires | 1 | Aug 2025 | — |
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 Madison River Valley forecast zone and Madison County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does McAllister get?
A normal year brings about 52 inches of snow to McAllister, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Norris Madison Pwr House weather station 5.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (12.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7 | 5.4 | 9.7 | 7.1 | 12.9 | 7.1 | 5.3 | 1.6 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover McAllister?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KTFX (Great Falls, MT), about 141 miles north. 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 McAllister | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KTFX Great Falls, MT | 141 mi north | 16,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KBLX Billings, MT | 153 mi east-northeast | 18,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMSX Missoula, MT | 155 mi northwest | 19,100 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 McAllister
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 2 tornadoes within 25 miles of McAllister. The strongest was an F0 on June 29, 1999, which touched down about 13 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 16 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on August 11, 2019.
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 McAllister'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.
McAllister radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to McAllister, MT?
KTFX (Great Falls, MT), about 141 miles north. KBLX (Billings, MT) is 153 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in McAllister?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over McAllister the lowest scan from KTFX is about 16,400 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for McAllister 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 McAllister, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Three Forks, MT radar 32 mi
- Manhattan, MT radar 35 mi
- Whitehall, MT radar 35 mi
- Belgrade, MT radar 36 mi
- Bozeman, MT radar 37 mi
- Dillon, MT radar 47 mi
- Butte-Silver Bow (balance), MT radar 55 mi
- Boulder, MT radar 58 mi
- Livingston, MT radar 59 mi