Fort Garland, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Fort Garland, Costilla County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Fort Garland?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 65 days in the Southern San Luis Valley forecast zone and Costilla County — the most common reported hazard around Fort Garland, mostly in March and January. Next come high winds (43 days) and flash flooding (10 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 65 | Jan 2026 | Feb 18, 1998 · 1 death |
| High winds | 43 | Dec 2021 | Apr 19, 1996 · $300,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 10 | Jul 2022 | Sep 6, 2019 · $150,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 6 | Jan 1997 | — |
| Flooding | 2 | May 1999 | Apr 30, 1999 · $14 million damage |
| Blizzards | 1 | Oct 1997 | Oct 24, 1997 · 4 deaths · $300,000 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 Southern San Luis Valley forecast zone and Costilla County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Fort Garland?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPUX (Pueblo, CO), about 99 miles 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 Garland | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 99 mi northeast | 9,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 170 mi north-northeast | 22,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 175 mi south-southwest | 23,500 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 Garland
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 14 tornadoes within 25 miles of Fort Garland, 2 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F3 on July 31, 1955, which touched down near town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 6, 2021, which touched down about 15 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 8 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on July 22, 2000.
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 Garland'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 Garland radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Fort Garland, CO?
KPUX (Pueblo, CO), about 99 miles northeast. KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO) is 170 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Fort Garland?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Fort Garland the lowest scan from KPUX is about 9,400 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Fort Garland 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 Garland, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Center, CO radar 43 mi
- Del Norte, CO radar 53 mi
- Trinidad, CO radar 55 mi