Fort Collins, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Fort Collins, Larimer County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Fort Collins?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged high winds on 105 days in the Larimer County Below 6000 Feet/Northwest Weld County forecast zone and Larimer County — the most common reported hazard around Fort Collins, mostly in December and January. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (70 days) and flash flooding (53 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| High winds | 105 | Mar 2026 | Feb 21, 2017 · $200,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 70 | May 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 53 | Aug 2024 | Jul 28, 1997 · 5 deaths · $190 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 44 | Jul 2024 | Jul 2, 2005 · 2 deaths |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 43 | Aug 2019 | Jul 24, 2008 · 2 deaths |
| Flooding | 8 | May 2015 | Sep 12, 2013 · $109 million damage |
| Blizzards | 6 | Mar 2021 | Mar 17, 2003 · $16 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 6 | Jan 2026 | — |
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 Larimer County Below 6000 Feet/Northwest Weld County forecast zone and Larimer County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Fort Collins get?
A normal year brings about 49 inches of snow to Fort Collins, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Fcl weather station 2.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually March (8.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8 | 6.2 | 8.7 | 6.0 | 7.8 | 8.9 | 6.3 | 1.4 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Fort Collins?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KCYS (Cheyenne, WY), about 44 miles north-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 Fort Collins | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 44 mi north-northeast | 3,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 59 mi south-southeast | 4,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 152 mi south-southeast | 18,500 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 Fort Collins
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 113 tornadoes within 25 miles of Fort Collins, 9 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an EF3 on May 22, 2008, which passed about 4 miles east-northeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF2 on June 7, 2021, which passed about 23 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 735 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 65 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 4, 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 Fort Collins'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.
Fort Collins radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Fort Collins, CO?
KCYS (Cheyenne, WY), about 44 miles north-northeast. KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO) is 59 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Fort Collins?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Fort Collins the lowest scan from KCYS is about 3,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Fort Collins 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 Fort Collins, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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