Ponderosa Pines, MT Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Ponderosa Pines, Gallatin County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Ponderosa Pines?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 50 days in the Big Belt, Bridger and Castle Mountains forecast zone and Gallatin County — the most common reported hazard around Ponderosa Pines, mostly in July and August. Next come high winds (18 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (18 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 50 | Nov 2025 | Jul 3, 2000 · $25,000 damage |
| High winds | 18 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 18 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 10 | Apr 2023 | Apr 10, 2023 · $1.0 million damage |
| Wildfires | 6 | Aug 2024 | Sep 1, 2000 · $160,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 5 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 2 | Aug 2021 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | Jun 1999 | Jun 17, 1999 · 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 Big Belt, Bridger and Castle Mountains forecast zone and Gallatin County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Ponderosa Pines get?
A normal year brings about 21 inches of snow to Ponderosa Pines, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Menard 3 Ne weather station 11.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (5.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 3.3 | 5.7 | 4.6 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 0.7 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Ponderosa Pines?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KTFX (Great Falls, MT), about 99 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 Ponderosa Pines | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KTFX Great Falls, MT | 99 mi north | 9,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KBLX Billings, MT | 133 mi east | 15,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMSX Missoula, MT | 143 mi west-northwest | 16,800 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 Ponderosa Pines
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 4 tornadoes within 25 miles of Ponderosa Pines. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F0 on July 2, 1997, which touched down about 11 miles south of town.
Hail: 30 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 3 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on June 30, 2010.
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 Ponderosa Pines'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.
Ponderosa Pines radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Ponderosa Pines, MT?
KTFX (Great Falls, MT), about 99 miles north. KBLX (Billings, MT) is 133 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Ponderosa Pines?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Ponderosa Pines the lowest scan from KTFX is about 9,400 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Ponderosa Pines 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 Ponderosa Pines, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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