Dakota Ridge, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Dakota Ridge, Jefferson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Dakota Ridge?
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 Jefferson County — the most common reported hazard around Dakota Ridge, mostly in December and January. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (112 days) and lightning casualties & damage (32 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 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 32 | May 2023 | Jul 27, 2007 · 1 death · $5,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 29 | Jun 2026 | Jul 12, 1996 · 2 deaths · $520,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 21 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 9 | Aug 2023 | Sep 12, 2013 · $8.0 million damage |
| Wildfires | 7 | Aug 2024 | Dec 30, 2021 · 2 deaths · $2.0 billion damage |
| Blizzards | 5 | Mar 2021 | Mar 17, 2003 · $16 million 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 Jefferson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Dakota Ridge get?
A normal year brings about 34 inches of snow to Dakota Ridge, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Marston Fltr Plt weather station 3.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (6.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.7 | 3.7 | 5.9 | 6.3 | 6.2 | 5.4 | 4.1 | 0.8 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Dakota Ridge?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 33 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 Dakota Ridge | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 33 mi east-northeast | 2,100 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 95 mi south-southeast | 8,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 107 mi north | 10,700 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 Dakota Ridge
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 124 tornadoes within 25 miles of Dakota Ridge, 11 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F3 on June 15, 1988, which touched down about 13 miles northeast of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on July 6, 2023, which touched down about 22 miles east of town.
Hail: 1,282 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 91 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on August 5, 1983.
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 Dakota Ridge'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.
Dakota Ridge radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Dakota Ridge, CO?
KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 33 miles east-northeast. KPUX (Pueblo, CO) is 95 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Dakota Ridge?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Dakota Ridge the lowest scan from KFTG is about 2,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Dakota Ridge 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 Dakota Ridge, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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