Blanca, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Blanca, Costilla County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Blanca?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 65 days in the Southern San Luis Valley forecast zone and Costilla County — the most common reported hazard around Blanca, mostly in March and January. Next come high winds (43 days) and flash flooding (10 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 65 | Jan 2026 | Feb 18, 1998 · 1 death |
| High winds | 43 | Dec 2021 | Apr 19, 1996 · $300,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 10 | Jul 2022 | Sep 6, 2019 · $150,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 6 | Jan 1997 | — |
| Flooding | 2 | May 1999 | Apr 30, 1999 · $14 million damage |
| Blizzards | 1 | Oct 1997 | Oct 24, 1997 · 4 deaths · $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 Southern San Luis Valley forecast zone and Costilla County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Blanca?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPUX (Pueblo, CO), about 101 miles northeast. 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 Blanca | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 101 mi northeast | 9,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 170 mi north-northeast | 22,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 174 mi south-southwest | 23,200 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 Blanca
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 16 tornadoes within 25 miles of Blanca, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F3 on July 31, 1955, which touched down about 5 miles east of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 6, 2021, which touched down about 12 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 12 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 1 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.50-inch hail on August 16, 2008.
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 Blanca'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.
Blanca radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Blanca, CO?
KPUX (Pueblo, CO), about 101 miles northeast. KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO) is 170 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Blanca?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Blanca the lowest scan from KPUX is about 9,800 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Blanca 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 Blanca, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Monte Vista, CO radar 36 mi
- Center, CO radar 39 mi
- Walsenburg, CO radar 42 mi
- Del Norte, CO radar 49 mi
- Trinidad, CO radar 59 mi