Sun River, MT Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Sun River, Cascade County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Sun River?
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 Sun River, 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 Sun River get?
A normal year brings about 46 inches of snow to Sun River, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Simms 1 Ne weather station 9.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually April (7.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.5 | 6.2 | 7.3 | 7.4 | 1.4 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Sun River?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KTFX (Great Falls, MT), about 17 miles east-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 Sun River | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KTFX Great Falls, MT | 17 mi east-southeast | 900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KMSX Missoula, MT | 111 mi west-southwest | 11,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KBLX Billings, MT | 188 mi southeast | 26,300 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 Sun River
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 13 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sun River. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F1 on July 2, 1964, which passed about 5 miles north of town. The most recent was an F1 on July 3, 1998, which touched down about 9 miles east-northeast of town.
Hail: 145 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 13 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on July 7, 2022.
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 Sun River'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.
Sun River radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Sun River, MT?
KTFX (Great Falls, MT), about 17 miles east-southeast. KMSX (Missoula, MT) is 111 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Sun River?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Sun River the lowest scan from KTFX is about 900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Sun River 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 Sun River, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Great Falls, MT radar 20 mi
- Choteau, MT radar 29 mi
- Conrad, MT radar 46 mi
- Fort Benton, MT radar 54 mi