Cope, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Cope, Washington County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Cope?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 117 days in the Washington County forecast zone and Washington County — the most common reported hazard around Cope, mostly in June and July. Next come high winds (79 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (27 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 117 | Jun 2026 | Sep 19, 1998 · $200,000 damage |
| High winds | 79 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 27 | Nov 2024 | — |
| Blizzards | 26 | Dec 2023 | — |
| Flash flooding | 22 | Jun 2023 | Sep 29, 2014 · $200,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 10 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 5 | Jun 2023 | Sep 15, 2013 · $10 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Jun 2005 | Jun 2, 2005 · $25,000 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 Washington County forecast zone and Washington County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Cope get?
A normal year brings about 30 inches of snow to Cope, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Joes weather station 8.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (5.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 | 4.0 | 5.8 | 5.3 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 3.3 | 0.4 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Cope?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGLD (Goodland, KS), about 64 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 Cope | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KGLD Goodland, KS | 64 mi east-southeast | 5,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 91 mi west | 8,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 110 mi southwest | 11,100 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 Cope
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 117 tornadoes within 25 miles of Cope, 8 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F3 on July 21, 1993, which passed about 13 miles west-southwest of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on May 18, 2025, which touched down about 14 miles east of town.
Hail: 345 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 53 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.25-inch hail on August 8, 2023.
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 Cope'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.
Cope radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Cope, CO?
KGLD (Goodland, KS), about 64 miles east-southeast. KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO) is 91 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Cope?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Cope the lowest scan from KGLD is about 5,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Cope 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 Cope, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Limon, CO radar 53 mi
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