Black Hawk, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Black Hawk, Gilpin County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Black Hawk?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 168 days in the Jefferson and West Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet/Gilpin/Clear Creek/Northeast Park Counties Below 9000 Feet forecast zone and Gilpin County — the most common reported hazard around Black Hawk, mostly in April and March. Next come high winds (129 days) and wildfires (5 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 168 | May 2026 | Mar 17, 2003 · $16 million damage |
| High winds | 129 | Mar 2026 | Apr 9, 1999 · $14 million damage |
| Wildfires | 5 | Jul 2025 | Mar 26, 2012 · 3 deaths · $11 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 2 | Sep 2013 | Jul 31, 1998 · $500,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 1 | Oct 1997 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 1 | Dec 2022 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | Sep 1996 | — |
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 Jefferson and West Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet/Gilpin/Clear Creek/Northeast Park Counties Below 9000 Feet forecast zone and Gilpin County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Black Hawk get?
A normal year brings about 195 inches of snow to Black Hawk, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Coal Creek Canyon weather station 8.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually April (42.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16.1 | 18.4 | 21.8 | 17.4 | 23.2 | 35.6 | 42.0 | 16.6 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Black Hawk?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 50 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 Black Hawk | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 50 mi east | 3,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 100 mi north-northeast | 9,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 116 mi southeast | 12,100 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 Black Hawk
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 21 tornadoes within 25 miles of Black Hawk, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F2 on October 15, 1980, which touched down about 21 miles northeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on July 28, 2012, which touched down about 17 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 503 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 45 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on June 18, 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 Black Hawk'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.
Black Hawk radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Black Hawk, CO?
KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 50 miles east. KCYS (Cheyenne, WY) is 100 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Black Hawk?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Black Hawk the lowest scan from KFTG is about 3,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Black Hawk 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 Black Hawk, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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