Highlands Ranch, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Highlands Ranch, Douglas County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Highlands Ranch?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 104 days in the North Douglas County Below 6000 Feet/Denver/West Adams and Arapahoe Counties/East Broomfield County forecast zone and Douglas County — the most common reported hazard around Highlands Ranch, mostly in March and April. Next come high winds (92 days) and flash flooding (34 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 104 | May 2026 | — |
| High winds | 92 | Dec 2025 | Dec 28, 1997 · $120,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 34 | Jun 2024 | Jul 7, 2006 · $13 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 31 | Jun 2026 | Jul 8, 1997 · 1 death |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 24 | Jun 2019 | May 7, 2017 · 1 death · $5,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 9 | Mar 2021 | Dec 20, 2006 · 2 deaths |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 7 | Jan 2025 | Dec 18, 1998 · 3 deaths |
| Excessive heat | 5 | Jun 2012 | — |
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 North Douglas County Below 6000 Feet/Denver/West Adams and Arapahoe Counties/East Broomfield County forecast zone and Douglas County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Highlands Ranch get?
A normal year brings about 64 inches of snow to Highlands Ranch, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Highlands Ranch 3.2 Ese weather station 3.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (11.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.3 | 6.1 | 8.6 | 8.1 | 11.6 | 9.9 | 10.9 | 2.5 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Highlands Ranch?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 28 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 Highlands Ranch | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 28 mi northeast | 1,700 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 86 mi south-southeast | 7,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 112 mi north | 11,400 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 Highlands Ranch
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 171 tornadoes within 25 miles of Highlands Ranch, 12 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 13 miles north of town. The most recent was an EF1 on July 14, 2025, which touched down about 16 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 1,340 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 100 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 13, 2011.
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 Highlands Ranch'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.
Highlands Ranch radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Highlands Ranch, CO?
KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 28 miles northeast. KPUX (Pueblo, CO) is 86 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Highlands Ranch?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Highlands Ranch the lowest scan from KFTG is about 1,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Highlands Ranch 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 Highlands Ranch, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.