West Kootenai, MT Live Doppler Radar

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

Open live radar for West Kootenai What TALON shows

What weather hits West Kootenai?

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 West Kootenai, mostly in December and January. Next come high winds (27 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (19 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Heavy snow & winter storms	175	Oct 2025	Nov 18, 1996 · 1 death
High winds	27	Mar 2026	Dec 17, 2025 · $610,000 damage
Damaging thunderstorm winds	19	May 2026	Jul 21, 1997 · $1.5 million damage
Flooding	18	Dec 2025	Dec 11, 2025 · $31 million damage
Extreme cold & wind chill	9	Feb 2025	—
Excessive heat	4	Jul 2024	—
Ice storms & sleet	3	Dec 2024	—
Avalanches	2	Feb 2014	Feb 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 West Kootenai get?

A normal year brings about 35 inches of snow to West Kootenai, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Eureka Rs weather station 8.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (10.2 in).

Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May
0.6	5.0	10.2	8.5	5.9	3.7	1.0	0.2

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 Kootenai?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KOTX (Spokane, WA), about 142 miles 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.

Radar	Distance	Lowest beam over West Kootenai	View
KOTX Spokane, WA	142 mi southwest	16,600 ft	Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KMSX Missoula, MT	145 mi south-southeast	17,100 ft	Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KTFX Great Falls, MT	205 mi east-southeast	30,400 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 Kootenai

NOAA has no tornado on record within 25 miles of West Kootenai since 1950.

Hail: 6 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 1 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on August 11, 1968.

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 Kootenai'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 Kootenai radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to West Kootenai, MT?

KOTX (Spokane, WA), about 142 miles southwest. KMSX (Missoula, MT) is 145 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in West Kootenai?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over West Kootenai the lowest scan from KOTX is about 16,600 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.

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

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