Lakeside, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lakeside, Jefferson County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lakeside?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged high winds on 118 days in the Boulder And Jefferson Counties Below 6000 Feet/West Broomfield County forecast zone and Jefferson County — the most common reported hazard around Lakeside, mostly in December and January. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (112 days) and lightning casualties & damage (32 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| High winds | 118 | Mar 2026 | Apr 17, 2018 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 112 | May 2026 | — |
| 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 | Aug 2024 | Dec 30, 2021 · 2 deaths · $2.0 billion damage |
| Blizzards | 5 | Mar 2021 | Mar 17, 2003 · $16 million damage |
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 Boulder And Jefferson Counties Below 6000 Feet/West Broomfield County forecast zone and Jefferson County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Lakeside get?
A normal year brings about 76 inches of snow to Lakeside, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Wheat Ridge 2 weather station 3.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually March (12.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.9 | 10.0 | 9.9 | 9.6 | 11.9 | 12.9 | 12.1 | 2.2 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Lakeside?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 27 miles east. 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 Lakeside | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 27 mi east | 1,600 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 96 mi north | 9,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 103 mi south-southeast | 10,000 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 Lakeside
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 190 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lakeside, 15 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 8 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 13, 2025, which touched down about 21 miles northeast of town.
Hail: 1,472 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 117 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 Lakeside'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.
Lakeside radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lakeside, CO?
KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 27 miles east. KCYS (Cheyenne, WY) is 96 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lakeside?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lakeside the lowest scan from KFTG is about 1,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Lakeside 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 Lakeside, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Edgewater, CO radar 2 mi
- Wheat Ridge, CO radar 3 mi
- Arvada, CO radar 6 mi
- Federal Heights, CO radar 6 mi
- Lakewood, CO radar 6 mi
- Westminster, CO radar 7 mi
- Glendale, CO radar 8 mi
- Golden, CO radar 9 mi
- Sheridan, CO radar 9 mi
- Denver, CO radar 9 mi