Idledale, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Idledale, Jefferson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Idledale?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 168 days in the Jefferson and West Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet/Gilpin/Clear Creek/Northeast Park Counties Below 9000 Feet forecast zone and Jefferson County — the most common reported hazard around Idledale, mostly in April and March. Next come high winds (129 days) and lightning casualties & damage (32 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 168 | May 2026 | Mar 17, 2003 · $16 million damage |
| High winds | 129 | Mar 2026 | Apr 9, 1999 · $14 million damage |
| 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 | Jul 2025 | Mar 26, 2012 · 3 deaths · $11 million damage |
| Blizzards | 1 | Oct 1997 | — |
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 Jefferson and West Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet/Gilpin/Clear Creek/Northeast Park Counties Below 9000 Feet forecast zone and Jefferson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Idledale get?
A normal year brings about 141 inches of snow to Idledale, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Golden 3Sw weather station 3.5 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 Idledale?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 38 miles east-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 Idledale | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 38 mi east-northeast | 2,500 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 101 mi southeast | 9,800 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 105 mi north-northeast | 10,400 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 Idledale
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 73 tornadoes within 25 miles of Idledale, 9 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 17 miles east-northeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on June 22, 2023, which passed about 14 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 1,151 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 82 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 Idledale'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.
Idledale radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Idledale, CO?
KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 38 miles east-northeast. KPUX (Pueblo, CO) is 101 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Idledale?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Idledale the lowest scan from KFTG is about 2,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Idledale 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 Idledale, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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