Buena Vista, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Buena Vista, Chaffee County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Buena Vista?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 71 days in the Central Chaffee County Below 9000 Ft forecast zone and Chaffee County — the most common reported hazard around Buena Vista, mostly in March and April. Next come high winds (19 days) and flash flooding (16 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 71 | May 2026 | — |
| High winds | 19 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 16 | Aug 2022 | Aug 2, 2007 · $2.0 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 7 | Jul 2015 | Jul 17, 2015 · 1 death |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 3 | Jul 2023 | — |
| Debris flows | 2 | Aug 2022 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 1 | Dec 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 Central Chaffee County Below 9000 Ft forecast zone and Chaffee County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Buena Vista get?
A normal year brings about 49 inches of snow to Buena Vista, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Buena Vista 2S weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually March (8.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | 5.1 | 7.6 | 6.2 | 7.4 | 8.2 | 8.1 | 3.2 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Buena Vista?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 108 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 Buena Vista | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 108 mi northeast | 10,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 109 mi east-southeast | 10,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KGJX Grand Junction, CO | 113 mi west | 11,500 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 Buena Vista
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 4 tornadoes within 25 miles of Buena Vista. Most came in July and May. The strongest was an F0 on May 5, 1991, which touched down about 22 miles south-southeast of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 30, 2023, which touched down about 19 miles northeast of town.
Hail: 9 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on June 5, 2016.
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 Buena Vista'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.
Buena Vista radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Buena Vista, CO?
KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 108 miles northeast. KPUX (Pueblo, CO) is 109 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Buena Vista?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Buena Vista the lowest scan from KFTG is about 10,800 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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