Crestone, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Crestone, Saguache County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Crestone?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 56 days in the Del Norte Vicinity/Northern San Luis Valley Below 8500 Ft forecast zone and Saguache County — the most common reported hazard around Crestone, mostly in March and April. Next come high winds (15 days) and flash flooding (5 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 56 | Mar 2026 | Apr 2, 2001 · $100,000 damage |
| High winds | 15 | Mar 2026 | May 21, 2002 · $60,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 5 | Aug 2022 | Jul 25, 1999 · $75,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 3 | Sep 2013 | Jun 3, 2005 · $100,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 1 | Dec 1996 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | Jul 2003 | Jul 27, 2003 · 1 death |
| Debris flows | 1 | Jul 2025 | — |
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 Del Norte Vicinity/Northern San Luis Valley Below 8500 Ft forecast zone and Saguache County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Crestone get?
A normal year brings about 59 inches of snow to Crestone, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Crestone 2 Se weather station 1 mile away. The snowiest month is usually April (10.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.9 | 7.0 | 9.4 | 8.0 | 7.7 | 9.3 | 10.8 | 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 Crestone?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPUX (Pueblo, CO), about 88 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 Crestone | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 88 mi east-northeast | 8,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 138 mi north-northeast | 16,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KGJX Grand Junction, CO | 155 mi west-northwest | 19,100 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 Crestone
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 16 tornadoes within 25 miles of Crestone, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F2 on July 4, 1960, which touched down about 13 miles east-northeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on July 30, 2025, which touched down about 14 miles east of town.
Hail: 38 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 2 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on August 1, 1996.
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 Crestone'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.
Crestone radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Crestone, CO?
KPUX (Pueblo, CO), about 88 miles east-northeast. KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO) is 138 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Crestone?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Crestone the lowest scan from KPUX is about 8,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Crestone 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 Crestone, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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