West Glacier, MT Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for West Glacier, Flathead County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits West Glacier?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 264 days in the West Glacier Region forecast zone and Flathead County — the most common reported hazard around West Glacier, mostly in January and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (32 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (29 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 264 | Mar 2026 | Aug 28, 2024 · 1 death |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 32 | May 2026 | Jul 22, 2000 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 29 | Feb 2025 | Nov 6, 2022 · $500 damage |
| High winds | 29 | Dec 2025 | Dec 17, 2025 · $100,000 damage |
| Flooding | 20 | Jun 2026 | Jun 4, 1996 · 3 deaths |
| Avalanches | 10 | Feb 2017 | Jan 13, 2008 · 2 deaths |
| Blizzards | 9 | Feb 2018 | — |
| Flash flooding | 5 | Jun 2022 | Nov 5, 2006 · $7.0 million damage |
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 West Glacier Region forecast zone and Flathead County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does West Glacier get?
A normal year brings about 115 inches of snow to West Glacier, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the W Glacier weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually January (32.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 | 16.2 | 31.4 | 32.0 | 16.0 | 14.0 | 3.1 | 0.5 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover West Glacier?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMSX (Missoula, MT), about 100 miles south. 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 West Glacier | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMSX Missoula, MT | 100 mi south | 9,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KTFX Great Falls, MT | 140 mi east-southeast | 16,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KOTX Spokane, WA | 177 mi west-southwest | 23,800 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 West Glacier
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 2 tornadoes within 25 miles of West Glacier. The strongest was an F0 on September 10, 2000, which touched down about 16 miles west-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on April 9, 2008, which touched down about 25 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 38 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 West Glacier'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.
West Glacier radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to West Glacier, MT?
KMSX (Missoula, MT), about 100 miles south. KTFX (Great Falls, MT) is 140 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in West Glacier?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over West Glacier the lowest scan from KMSX is about 9,700 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for West Glacier 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 West Glacier, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Columbia Falls, MT radar 12 mi
- Whitefish, MT radar 17 mi
- Kalispell, MT radar 25 mi
- Eureka, MT radar 55 mi
- Polson, MT radar 56 mi