Monarch, MT Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Monarch, Cascade County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Monarch?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 96 days in the Little Belt and Highwood Mountains forecast zone and Cascade County — the most common reported hazard around Monarch, mostly in July and June. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (20 days) and high winds (16 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 96 | May 2026 | Jun 19, 2003 · $60,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 20 | Apr 2026 | — |
| High winds | 16 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 13 | Jul 2025 | Jun 19, 2003 · $250,000 damage |
| Flooding | 11 | May 2023 | May 17, 2023 · 2 deaths · $60,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 6 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 4 | Aug 2019 | Aug 11, 2019 · $10,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 1 | May 2024 | May 7, 2024 · $114,000 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 Little Belt and Highwood Mountains forecast zone and Cascade County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Monarch?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KTFX (Great Falls, MT), about 35 miles 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 Monarch | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KTFX Great Falls, MT | 35 mi northwest | 2,300 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KBLX Billings, MT | 137 mi southeast | 15,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMSX Missoula, MT | 148 mi west | 17,800 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 Monarch
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 5 tornadoes within 25 miles of Monarch, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F2 on June 30, 1975, which touched down about 22 miles west of town. The most recent was an EF1 on June 16, 2007, which passed about 15 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 80 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 9 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on August 5, 2002.
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 Monarch'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.
Monarch radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Monarch, MT?
KTFX (Great Falls, MT), about 35 miles northwest. KBLX (Billings, MT) is 137 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Monarch?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Monarch the lowest scan from KTFX is about 2,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Monarch 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 Monarch, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Great Falls, MT radar 35 mi
- White Sulphur Springs, MT radar 38 mi
- Fort Benton, MT radar 51 mi
- East Helena, MT radar 62 mi