Sentinel Butte, ND Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Sentinel Butte, Golden Valley County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Sentinel Butte?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged high winds on 70 days in the Golden Valley forecast zone and Golden Valley County — the most common reported hazard around Sentinel Butte, mostly in March and January. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (49 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (40 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| High winds | 70 | Mar 2026 | Feb 13, 2011 · $20,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 49 | Jun 2026 | Sep 5, 2015 · $700,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 40 | Oct 2023 | — |
| Blizzards | 33 | Dec 2025 | Apr 4, 1997 · $1.6 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 20 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Aug 2006 | Aug 17, 2006 · $7,000 damage |
| Flooding | 2 | Apr 2023 | Apr 11, 2023 · $140,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 2 | Jun 2002 | — |
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 Golden Valley forecast zone and Golden Valley County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Sentinel Butte get?
A normal year brings about 30 inches of snow to Sentinel Butte, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Medora weather station 14.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (7.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 | 3.0 | 6.0 | 4.4 | 7.2 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 0.4 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Sentinel Butte?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KBIS (Bismarck, ND), about 146 miles east. 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 Sentinel Butte | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBIS Bismarck, ND | 146 mi east | 17,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KGGW Glasgow, MT | 157 mi northwest | 19,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMBX Minot AFB, ND | 172 mi northeast | 22,700 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 Sentinel Butte
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 19 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sentinel Butte, 4 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F3 on July 19, 1952, which passed about 7 miles north-northwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 27, 2024, which touched down about 20 miles north of town.
Hail: 196 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 35 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 8, 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 Sentinel Butte'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.
Sentinel Butte radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Sentinel Butte, ND?
KBIS (Bismarck, ND), about 146 miles east. KGGW (Glasgow, MT) is 157 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Sentinel Butte?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Sentinel Butte the lowest scan from KBIS is about 17,400 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Sentinel Butte 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 Sentinel Butte, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Dickinson, ND radar 49 mi
- Bowman, ND radar 55 mi