Denver, CO Live Doppler Radar
Watch storms move over Denver in real time — every NWS radar combined, storm tracks, official warnings, and the closest radar's full 250 m detail.
Which radars cover Denver?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar to Denver, CO is KFTG (Denver/Boulder), about 24 miles to the east. Radar beams climb as they travel because the Earth curves away underneath them, so the height of the lowest scan over a city decides how much of a storm's base the radar can see.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over Denver | View of low-level rotation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 24 mi east | 1,400 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan is close to the ground, where tornadoes form |
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 98 mi north | 9,300 ft | Fair — the lowest scan is already well above the ground |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 98 mi south-southeast | 9,400 ft | Fair — the lowest scan is already well above the ground |
Beam height is the center of the 0.5° scan above the radar, using standard atmospheric refraction. Hills and buildings near the radar can block it further.
On TALON you get Denver's live radar loop, storm tracks with arrival times and NWS warnings free; close-up radar and rotation detection are part of TALON Pro.
Tornado & hail history near Denver
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 220 tornadoes within 25 miles of Denver, 17 of them rated EF2/F2 or stronger. They have been most common in June and July. The strongest was an F3 on June 15, 1988, which touched down about 3 miles east of the city. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 13, 2025, which touched down about 21 miles northeast of the city.
Hail: 1,479 reports of hail 1 inch or larger within 25 miles of Denver since 1955, 115 of them 2 inches or larger. The largest was 4.50-inch hail (grapefruit size) on July 13, 2011.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 220 |
| EF2/F2 or stronger | 17 |
| Strongest tornado | F3 · Jun 1988 |
| Busiest tornado month | June |
| Largest hail | 4.50 in · Jul 2011 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database — tornadoes 1950–2025, hail 1955–2025 (the latest year is preliminary). Distances are to each tornado's recorded track; ratings before February 2007 use the original Fujita (F) scale.
Denver radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Denver?
KFTG near Denver/Boulder, CO, about 24 miles away. A second radar, KCYS (Cheyenne), is 98 miles away and also covers the area.
Can radar see a tornado over Denver?
Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it can see the rotating storm and, once a tornado is lofting debris, a debris signature. Over Denver the lowest scan from KFTG is roughly 1,400 ft up. Excellent — the lowest scan is close to the ground, where tornadoes form. TALON combines that with NOAA's ProbSevere model to flag storms most likely to produce tornadoes.
How often do tornadoes hit Denver?
NOAA records show 220 tornadoes within 25 miles of Denver since 1950 — about 2.9 a year on average, most often in June and July. Most were weak, but 17 were EF2/F2 or stronger.
Should I rely on radar for my safety?
No app replaces official warnings. When the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning for Denver, take shelter right away — see watch vs. warning.