Montana City, MT Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Montana City, Jefferson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Montana City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 15 days in the Elkhorn and Boulder Mountains forecast zone and Jefferson County — the most common reported hazard around Montana City, mostly in April and October. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (11 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (8 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 15 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 11 | Sep 2025 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 8 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Wildfires | 6 | Nov 2024 | — |
| High winds | 6 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 3 | Jun 2023 | Jun 27, 2023 · $100,000 damage |
| Flooding | 3 | Jul 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 Elkhorn and Boulder Mountains forecast zone and Jefferson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Montana City get?
A normal year brings about 37 inches of snow to Montana City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Helena Rgnl Ap weather station 5.8 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 Montana City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KTFX (Great Falls, MT), about 70 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 Montana City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KTFX Great Falls, MT | 70 mi north-northeast | 5,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KMSX Missoula, MT | 103 mi west-northwest | 10,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KBLX Billings, MT | 166 mi east-southeast | 21,400 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 Montana City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 4 tornadoes within 25 miles of Montana City. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F0 on July 22, 1960, which touched down about 6 miles north-northwest of town. The most recent was an F0 on June 27, 1997, which touched down about 6 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 96 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 10 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 Montana City'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.
Montana City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Montana City, MT?
KTFX (Great Falls, MT), about 70 miles north-northeast. KMSX (Missoula, MT) is 103 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Montana City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Montana City the lowest scan from KTFX is about 5,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Montana City 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 Montana City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- East Helena, MT radar 4 mi
- Helena, MT radar 7 mi
- Boulder, MT radar 22 mi
- Townsend, MT radar 24 mi
- Deer Lodge, MT radar 39 mi
- Whitehall, MT radar 46 mi
- Three Forks, MT radar 47 mi
- White Sulphur Springs, MT radar 49 mi
- Manhattan, MT radar 54 mi
- Butte-Silver Bow (balance), MT radar 56 mi