Boulder, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Boulder, Boulder County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Boulder?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged high winds on 118 days in the Boulder And Jefferson Counties Below 6000 Feet/West Broomfield County forecast zone and Boulder County — the most common reported hazard around Boulder, mostly in December and January. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (112 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (28 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| High winds | 118 | Mar 2026 | Apr 17, 2018 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 112 | May 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 28 | Jul 2024 | Jun 15, 2009 · $20,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 28 | Jul 2019 | Jul 14, 2019 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 18 | Jul 2021 | Sep 11, 2013 · 3 deaths |
| Blizzards | 5 | Mar 2021 | Mar 17, 2003 · $16 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 5 | Jan 2025 | — |
| Wildfires | 5 | Aug 2024 | Dec 30, 2021 · 2 deaths · $2.0 billion 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 Boulder And Jefferson Counties Below 6000 Feet/West Broomfield County forecast zone and Boulder County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Boulder get?
A normal year brings about 85 inches of snow to Boulder, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Boulder 2.9 S weather station 2.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (17.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.9 | 8.5 | 14.2 | 10.2 | 17.4 | 13.6 | 11.9 | 2.5 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Boulder?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 41 miles east-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 Boulder | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 41 mi east-southeast | 2,700 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 81 mi north-northeast | 7,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 122 mi south-southeast | 13,100 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 Boulder
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 81 tornadoes within 25 miles of Boulder, 7 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an EF3 on June 4, 2015, which passed about 17 miles north-northeast of town. The most recent was an EF2 on June 7, 2021, which passed about 20 miles east-northeast of town.
Hail: 803 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 73 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on May 18, 1958.
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 Boulder'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.
Boulder radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Boulder, CO?
KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 41 miles east-southeast. KCYS (Cheyenne, WY) is 81 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Boulder?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Boulder the lowest scan from KFTG is about 2,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Boulder 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 Boulder, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Louisville, CO radar 7 mi
- Superior, CO radar 8 mi
- Lafayette, CO radar 8 mi
- Erie, CO radar 11 mi
- Broomfield, CO radar 12 mi
- Longmont, CO radar 13 mi
- Lyons, CO radar 14 mi
- Nederland, CO radar 14 mi
- Westminster, CO radar 14 mi
- Arvada, CO radar 14 mi