La Junta, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for La Junta, Otero County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits La Junta?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 65 days in the La Junta Vicinity/Otero County forecast zone and Otero County — the most common reported hazard around La Junta, mostly in July and June. Next come high winds (64 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (25 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 65 | Oct 2024 | Jun 12, 2016 · 1 death · $10,000 damage |
| High winds | 64 | Mar 2026 | Dec 15, 2021 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 25 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 24 | Jul 2024 | Jun 26, 2007 · $50,000 damage |
| Flooding | 10 | Jul 2024 | Jun 12, 2024 · 1 death |
| Wildfires | 7 | Jul 2011 | Apr 1, 2010 · $30,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 5 | Aug 2007 | Sep 8, 2005 · 1 death |
| Blizzards | 4 | Dec 2011 | — |
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 La Junta Vicinity/Otero County forecast zone and Otero County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does La Junta get?
A normal year brings about 34 inches of snow to La Junta, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the La Junta weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually January (7.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.8 | 2.8 | 6.5 | 7.2 | 6.3 | 6.0 | 2.1 | 0.0 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover La Junta?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPUX (Pueblo, CO), about 48 miles northwest. 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 La Junta | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 48 mi northwest | 3,300 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 136 mi north-northwest | 15,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KGLD Goodland, KS | 138 mi northeast | 15,900 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 La Junta
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 63 tornadoes within 25 miles of La Junta, 5 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F2 on June 18, 1951, which passed about 13 miles north of town. The most recent was an EF0 on July 6, 2022, which passed about 6 miles east-northeast of town.
Hail: 234 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 39 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on October 11, 1997.
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 La Junta'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.
La Junta radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to La Junta, CO?
KPUX (Pueblo, CO), about 48 miles northwest. KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO) is 136 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in La Junta?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over La Junta the lowest scan from KPUX is about 3,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for La Junta 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 La Junta, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Rocky Ford, CO radar 11 mi
- Las Animas, CO radar 19 mi
- Ordway, CO radar 20 mi
- Fowler, CO radar 28 mi
- Lamar, CO radar 51 mi
- Pueblo, CO radar 61 mi