Blue River, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Blue River, Summit County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Blue River?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 203 days in the South and Southeast Grand/West Central and Southwest Boulder/Gilpin/Clear Creek/Summit/North and West Park Counties Above 9000 Feet forecast zone and Summit County — the most common reported hazard around Blue River, mostly in April and December. Next come high winds (81 days) and avalanches (32 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 203 | May 2026 | — |
| High winds | 81 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Avalanches | 32 | Feb 2025 | Apr 20, 2013 · 5 deaths |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 5 | Jul 2011 | Aug 1, 2004 · 1 death |
| Blizzards | 4 | Jan 2012 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 3 | Jul 2022 | Jul 16, 2022 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 2 | Jan 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 1 | Jul 2011 | Jul 18, 2011 · $210,000 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 South and Southeast Grand/West Central and Southwest Boulder/Gilpin/Clear Creek/Summit/North and West Park Counties Above 9000 Feet forecast zone and Summit County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Blue River get?
A normal year brings about 185 inches of snow to Blue River, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Breckenridge weather station 2.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually April (28.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13.6 | 23.7 | 23.8 | 27.7 | 27.7 | 27.6 | 28.0 | 9.5 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Blue River?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 83 miles east-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 Blue River | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 83 mi east-northeast | 7,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KGJX Grand Junction, CO | 120 mi west-southwest | 12,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 121 mi southeast | 12,900 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 Blue River
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 2 tornadoes within 25 miles of Blue River, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. The strongest was an F2 on June 13, 1977, which touched down about 15 miles south-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on July 28, 2012, which touched down about 24 miles east-northeast of town.
Hail: 3 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.25-inch hail on August 29, 2021.
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 Blue River'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.
Blue River radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Blue River, CO?
KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 83 miles east-northeast. KGJX (Grand Junction, CO) is 120 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Blue River?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Blue River the lowest scan from KFTG is about 7,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Blue River 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 Blue River, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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