Golden, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Golden, Jefferson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Golden?
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 Golden, 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 Golden get?
A normal year brings about 141 inches of snow to Golden, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Golden 3Sw weather station 2.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually April (29.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.5 | 9.7 | 26.4 | 15.7 | 21.6 | 19.9 | 29.9 | 8.5 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Golden?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 35 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 Golden | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 35 mi east | 2,300 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 100 mi north-northeast | 9,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 104 mi south-southeast | 10,300 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 Golden
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 85 tornadoes within 25 miles of Golden, 10 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 15 miles east of town. The most recent was an EF1 on June 22, 2023, which passed about 17 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 1,236 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 88 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 Golden'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.
Golden radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Golden, CO?
KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 35 miles east. KCYS (Cheyenne, WY) is 100 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Golden?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Golden the lowest scan from KFTG is about 2,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Golden 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 Golden, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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