Amherst, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Amherst, Phillips County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Amherst?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 64 days in the Phillips County forecast zone and Phillips County — the most common reported hazard around Amherst, mostly in June and July. Next come high winds (63 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (15 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 64 | Jun 2026 | Jul 4, 2006 · $1.0 million damage |
| High winds | 63 | Mar 2026 | Nov 6, 2008 · $500,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 15 | Nov 2024 | — |
| Blizzards | 15 | Dec 2023 | — |
| Flash flooding | 11 | Aug 2021 | Jun 12, 2007 · $200,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 6 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 2 | Apr 2021 | Apr 27, 2021 · $15,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 1 | Mar 2017 | Mar 6, 2017 · $300,000 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 Phillips County forecast zone and Phillips County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Amherst get?
A normal year brings about 30 inches of snow to Amherst, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Holyoke weather station 13 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (6.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.9 | 3.9 | 5.5 | 4.5 | 6.1 | 4.4 | 3.7 | 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 Amherst?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGLD (Goodland, KS), about 94 miles south-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 Amherst | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KGLD Goodland, KS | 94 mi south-southeast | 8,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 121 mi northeast | 12,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 140 mi west-southwest | 16,200 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 Amherst
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 124 tornadoes within 25 miles of Amherst, 9 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F3 on June 27, 1960, which passed about 9 miles west-northwest of town and caused 2 deaths. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on April 25, 2024, which touched down about 25 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 486 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 87 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 22, 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 Amherst'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.
Amherst radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Amherst, CO?
KGLD (Goodland, KS), about 94 miles south-southeast. KLNX (North Platte, NE) is 121 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Amherst?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Amherst the lowest scan from KGLD is about 8,800 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Amherst 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 Amherst, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Holyoke, CO radar 10 mi
- Julesburg, CO radar 21 mi
- Wray, CO radar 42 mi
- Yuma, CO radar 48 mi
- Sterling, CO radar 54 mi