Pioneer Junction, MT Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for Pioneer JunctionWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Pioneer Junction?

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 Lincoln County — the most common reported hazard around Pioneer Junction, mostly in December and January. Next come high winds (27 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (19 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Heavy snow & winter storms175Oct 2025Nov 18, 1996 · 1 death
High winds27Mar 2026Dec 17, 2025 · $610,000 damage
Damaging thunderstorm winds19May 2026Jul 21, 1997 · $1.5 million damage
Flooding18Dec 2025Dec 11, 2025 · $31 million damage
Extreme cold & wind chill9Feb 2025—
Excessive heat4Jul 2024—
Ice storms & sleet3Dec 2024—
Avalanches2Feb 2014Feb 22, 2014 · 1 death

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 Lincoln County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

How much snow does Pioneer Junction get?

A normal year brings about 48 inches of snow to Pioneer Junction, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Libby 1 Ne Rs weather station 6.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (20.4 in).

OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
0.36.320.411.85.43.80.20.0

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

Which radars cover Pioneer Junction?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOTX (Spokane, WA), about 107 miles west-southwest. 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over Pioneer JunctionView
KOTX
Spokane, WA		107 mi west-southwest10,600 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KMSX
Missoula, MT		113 mi southeast11,600 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KTFX
Great Falls, MT		200 mi east-southeast29,300 ftLimited — 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 Pioneer Junction

NOAA has no tornado on record within 25 miles of Pioneer Junction since 1950.

Hail: 4 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on June 26, 1993.

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 Pioneer Junction'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.

Pioneer Junction radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Pioneer Junction, MT?

KOTX (Spokane, WA), about 107 miles west-southwest. KMSX (Missoula, MT) is 113 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Pioneer Junction?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Pioneer Junction the lowest scan from KOTX is about 10,600 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.

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

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