Kiowa, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Kiowa, Elbert County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Kiowa?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 100 days in the Elbert/Central and East Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet forecast zone and Elbert County — the most common reported hazard around Kiowa, mostly in April and March. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (53 days) and high winds (23 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 100 | May 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 53 | May 2026 | Aug 13, 2024 · $30,000 damage |
| High winds | 23 | May 2024 | Nov 23, 1998 · $50,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 22 | Aug 2024 | Jun 11, 2023 · $50,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 18 | Mar 2025 | Mar 17, 2003 · $16 million damage |
| Flooding | 4 | Aug 2024 | Jun 22, 2023 · $60,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 4 | May 2019 | Jun 22, 2014 · $5,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 3 | Jan 2025 | — |
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 Elbert/Central and East Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet forecast zone and Elbert County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Kiowa get?
A normal year brings about 75 inches of snow to Kiowa, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Elizabeth 2Nw weather station 9.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually April (14.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.7 | 7.4 | 12.0 | 7.9 | 10.2 | 10.9 | 14.6 | 2.8 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Kiowa?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 31 miles north. 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 Kiowa | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 31 mi north | 1,900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 63 mi south-southeast | 4,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 126 mi north | 13,800 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 Kiowa
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 183 tornadoes within 25 miles of Kiowa, 8 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F2 on May 20, 1961, which touched down about 22 miles west of town. The most recent was an EF1 on July 14, 2025, which touched down about 16 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 734 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 78 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on August 9, 2004.
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 Kiowa'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.
Kiowa radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Kiowa, CO?
KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 31 miles north. KPUX (Pueblo, CO) is 63 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Kiowa?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Kiowa the lowest scan from KFTG is about 1,900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Kiowa 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 Kiowa, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Elizabeth, CO radar 8 mi
- Parker, CO radar 20 mi
- Castle Rock, CO radar 21 mi
- Castle Pines, CO radar 24 mi
- Lone Tree, CO radar 26 mi
- Bennett, CO radar 28 mi
- Centennial, CO radar 28 mi
- Monument, CO radar 28 mi
- Palmer Lake, CO radar 29 mi
- Aurora, CO radar 29 mi