Grand Lake, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Grand Lake, Grand County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Grand Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 30 days in the Grand and Summit Counties Below 9000 Feet forecast zone and Grand County — the most common reported hazard around Grand Lake, mostly in December and January. Next come flash flooding (13 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (13 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 30 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Flash flooding | 13 | Sep 2023 | Jul 30, 2021 · $35,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 13 | Jun 2026 | Jun 30, 2011 · $200,000 damage |
| High winds | 4 | Dec 2025 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 2 | Jan 2025 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 2 | Jul 2006 | — |
| Blizzards | 1 | Jan 1998 | — |
| Avalanches | 1 | Dec 2007 | — |
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 Grand and Summit Counties Below 9000 Feet forecast zone and Grand County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Grand Lake get?
A normal year brings about 155 inches of snow to Grand Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Grand Lake 1 Nw weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually January (30.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.4 | 22.5 | 28.5 | 30.6 | 25.1 | 17.6 | 17.1 | 5.3 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Grand Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 75 miles east-southeast. 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 Grand Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 75 mi east-southeast | 6,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 82 mi northeast | 7,100 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KGJX Grand Junction, CO | 151 mi west-southwest | 18,400 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 Grand Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 5 tornadoes within 25 miles of Grand Lake. Most came in May and April. The strongest was an F1 on May 10, 1974, which touched down about 20 miles west-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 28, 2018, which touched down about 25 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 19 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on July 18, 1981.
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 Grand Lake'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.
Grand Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Grand Lake, CO?
KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 75 miles east-southeast. KCYS (Cheyenne, WY) is 82 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Grand Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Grand Lake the lowest scan from KFTG is about 6,300 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Grand Lake 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 Grand Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Granby, CO radar 14 mi
- Estes Park, CO radar 17 mi
- Fraser, CO radar 23 mi
- Winter Park, CO radar 26 mi
- Nederland, CO radar 26 mi
- Lyons, CO radar 30 mi
- Kremmling, CO radar 32 mi
- Boulder, CO radar 34 mi
- Georgetown, CO radar 38 mi
- Longmont, CO radar 39 mi