Olney, MT Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Olney, Flathead County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Olney?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 175 days in the Kootenai/Cabinet Region forecast zone and Flathead County — the most common reported hazard around Olney, mostly in December and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (32 days) and high winds (27 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 175 | Oct 2025 | Nov 18, 1996 · 1 death |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 32 | May 2026 | Jul 22, 2000 · 1 death |
| High winds | 27 | Mar 2026 | Dec 17, 2025 · $610,000 damage |
| Flooding | 21 | Jun 2026 | May 1, 1997 · $543,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 9 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 5 | Jun 2022 | Nov 5, 2006 · $7.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 4 | Jul 2024 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 3 | Dec 2024 | — |
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 Kootenai/Cabinet Region forecast zone and Flathead County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Olney get?
A normal year brings about 63 inches of snow to Olney, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Whitefish weather station 13.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (21.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | 8.3 | 21.2 | 16.5 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 1.6 | 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 Olney?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMSX (Missoula, MT), about 108 miles south-southeast. 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 Olney | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMSX Missoula, MT | 108 mi south-southeast | 10,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KOTX Spokane, WA | 153 mi west-southwest | 18,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KTFX Great Falls, MT | 165 mi east-southeast | 21,300 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 Olney
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 2 tornadoes within 25 miles of Olney. The strongest was an F0 on September 10, 2000, which touched down about 14 miles southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on April 9, 2008, which touched down about 25 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 24 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 2 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on July 2, 1996.
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 Olney'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.
Olney radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Olney, MT?
KMSX (Missoula, MT), about 108 miles south-southeast. KOTX (Spokane, WA) is 153 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Olney?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Olney the lowest scan from KMSX is about 10,700 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Olney 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 Olney, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Whitefish, MT radar 13 mi
- Columbia Falls, MT radar 21 mi
- Kalispell, MT radar 25 mi
- Eureka, MT radar 32 mi
- Libby, MT radar 46 mi