Wise River, MT Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Wise River, Beaverhead County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Wise River?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 54 days in the Northwest Beaverhead County forecast zone and Beaverhead County — the most common reported hazard around Wise River, mostly in August and July. Next come wildfires (13 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (10 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 54 | May 2026 | — |
| Wildfires | 13 | Jun 2025 | Sep 1, 2000 · $10,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 10 | Jun 2026 | — |
| High winds | 9 | May 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 5 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 3 | Jul 2013 | — |
| Flooding | 3 | Jan 2024 | Jan 16, 2024 · $100,000 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 Northwest Beaverhead County forecast zone and Beaverhead County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Wise River get?
A normal year brings about 15 inches of snow to Wise River, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Divide weather station 9.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (4.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.9 | 1.7 | 4.6 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Wise River?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KMSX (Missoula, MT), about 99 miles north-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 Wise River | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMSX Missoula, MT | 99 mi north-northwest | 9,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KTFX Great Falls, MT | 137 mi north-northeast | 15,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KSFX Pocatello, ID | 186 mi south | 25,900 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 Wise River
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 3 tornadoes within 25 miles of Wise River. Most came in May and September. The strongest was an F1 on May 29, 1965, which touched down about 14 miles south of town. The most recent was an F0 on September 15, 1997, which touched down about 22 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 43 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 August 6, 2009.
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 Wise 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.
Wise River radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Wise River, MT?
KMSX (Missoula, MT), about 99 miles north-northwest. KTFX (Great Falls, MT) is 137 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Wise River?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Wise River the lowest scan from KMSX is about 9,500 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Wise 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 Wise River, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Butte-Silver Bow (balance), MT radar 15 mi
- Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, MT radar 23 mi
- Whitehall, MT radar 41 mi
- Dillon, MT radar 43 mi
- Deer Lodge, MT radar 43 mi
- Boulder, MT radar 50 mi