Sand Coulee, MT Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Sand Coulee, Cascade County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Sand Coulee?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 96 days in the Cascade County below 5000ft forecast zone and Cascade County — the most common reported hazard around Sand Coulee, mostly in July and June. Next come high winds (39 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (16 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 96 | May 2026 | Jun 19, 2003 · $60,000 damage |
| High winds | 39 | Apr 2026 | Mar 8, 2026 · $20,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 16 | Apr 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 | 5 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 4 | Aug 2019 | Aug 11, 2019 · $10,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 1 | Mar 2026 | — |
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 Cascade County below 5000ft forecast zone and Cascade County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Sand Coulee get?
A normal year brings about 69 inches of snow to Sand Coulee, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Great Falls Wfo weather station 10.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (11.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.1 | 9.3 | 9.7 | 9.5 | 11.5 | 9.7 | 10.7 | 1.9 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Sand Coulee?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KTFX (Great Falls, MT), about 11 miles west-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 Sand Coulee | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KTFX Great Falls, MT | 11 mi west-northwest | 600 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMSX Missoula, MT | 134 mi west | 15,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KBLX Billings, MT | 162 mi southeast | 20,600 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 Sand Coulee
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 15 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sand Coulee. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F1 on July 2, 1964, which passed about 18 miles northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on June 23, 2018, which touched down about 23 miles northeast of town.
Hail: 158 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 15 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 Sand Coulee'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.
Sand Coulee radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Sand Coulee, MT?
KTFX (Great Falls, MT), about 11 miles west-northwest. KMSX (Missoula, MT) is 134 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Sand Coulee?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Sand Coulee the lowest scan from KTFX is about 600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Sand Coulee 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 Sand Coulee, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Great Falls, MT radar 9 mi
- Fort Benton, MT radar 38 mi
- Choteau, MT radar 55 mi
- White Sulphur Springs, MT radar 61 mi