Empire, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Empire, Clear Creek County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Empire?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 168 days in the Jefferson and West Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet/Gilpin/Clear Creek/Northeast Park Counties Below 9000 Feet forecast zone and Clear Creek County — the most common reported hazard around Empire, mostly in April and March. Next come high winds (129 days) and flash flooding (7 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 168 | May 2026 | Mar 17, 2003 · $16 million damage |
| High winds | 129 | Mar 2026 | Apr 9, 1999 · $14 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 7 | Sep 2013 | Sep 14, 2013 · $256,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 5 | Jul 2025 | Mar 26, 2012 · 3 deaths · $11 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 4 | Jun 2015 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 2 | Jun 2023 | — |
| Blizzards | 1 | Oct 1997 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 1 | Dec 2022 | — |
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 Jefferson and West Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet/Gilpin/Clear Creek/Northeast Park Counties Below 9000 Feet forecast zone and Clear Creek County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Empire get?
A normal year brings about 106 inches of snow to Empire, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Georgetown weather station 3.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually April (20.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.5 | 11.1 | 14.4 | 12.5 | 12.6 | 18.5 | 20.9 | 6.6 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Empire?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 60 miles east. 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 Empire | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 60 mi east | 4,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 107 mi north-northeast | 10,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 121 mi southeast | 12,800 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 Empire
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 3 tornadoes within 25 miles of Empire. Most came in June and August. The strongest was an F1 on June 16, 1996, which touched down about 18 miles northeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on July 28, 2012, which touched down about 13 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 108 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 10 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.50-inch hail on June 22, 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 Empire'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.
Empire radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Empire, CO?
KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 60 miles east. KCYS (Cheyenne, WY) is 107 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Empire?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Empire the lowest scan from KFTG is about 4,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Empire 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 Empire, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Georgetown, CO radar 3 mi
- Idaho Springs, CO radar 9 mi
- Winter Park, CO radar 10 mi
- Fraser, CO radar 13 mi
- Nederland, CO radar 17 mi
- Dillon, CO radar 21 mi
- Silverthorne, CO radar 23 mi
- Granby, CO radar 25 mi
- Golden, CO radar 25 mi
- Frisco, CO radar 25 mi