Air Force Academy, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Air Force Academy, El Paso County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Air Force Academy?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 121 days in the Northern El Paso County/Monument Ridge/Rampart Range Below 7500 Ft forecast zone and El Paso County — the most common reported hazard around Air Force Academy, mostly in March and February. Next come flash flooding (114 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (81 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 121 | May 2026 | Apr 24, 2007 · $250,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 114 | Aug 2025 | Jun 21, 2005 · 2 deaths · $100,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 81 | Aug 2025 | May 22, 2006 · $1.3 million damage |
| High winds | 76 | Mar 2026 | Dec 30, 2008 · $2.0 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 50 | Aug 2017 | Sep 2, 2007 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 13 | Jun 2023 | Sep 12, 2013 · 1 death |
| Blizzards | 10 | Dec 2023 | — |
| Wildfires | 8 | Jun 2013 | Jun 26, 2012 · 2 deaths · $400 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 Northern El Paso County/Monument Ridge/Rampart Range Below 7500 Ft forecast zone and El Paso County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Air Force Academy get?
A normal year brings about 55 inches of snow to Air Force Academy, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Colorado Springs 5.7 Wnw weather station 6.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (11.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.6 | 5.9 | 8.3 | 6.6 | 11.7 | 7.5 | 8.7 | 1.9 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Air Force Academy?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPUX (Pueblo, CO), about 52 miles 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 Air Force Academy | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 52 mi southeast | 3,800 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 57 mi north-northeast | 4,300 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 149 mi north | 18,000 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 Air Force Academy
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 90 tornadoes within 25 miles of Air Force Academy, 7 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F3 on June 24, 1979, which passed about 10 miles south-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on July 30, 2025, which touched down about 15 miles west of town.
Hail: 1,275 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 112 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on August 6, 2018.
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 Air Force Academy'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.
Air Force Academy radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Air Force Academy, CO?
KPUX (Pueblo, CO), about 52 miles southeast. KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO) is 57 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Air Force Academy?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Air Force Academy the lowest scan from KPUX is about 3,800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Air Force Academy 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 Air Force Academy, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Monument, CO radar 6 mi
- Palmer Lake, CO radar 9 mi
- Manitou Springs, CO radar 10 mi
- Colorado Springs, CO radar 10 mi
- Woodland Park, CO radar 10 mi
- Fountain, CO radar 23 mi
- Cripple Creek, CO radar 24 mi
- Castle Rock, CO radar 26 mi
- Elizabeth, CO radar 29 mi
- Castle Pines, CO radar 32 mi