Mount Crested Butte, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Mount Crested Butte, Gunnison County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Mount Crested Butte?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 339 days in the West Elk and Sawatch Mountains forecast zone and Gunnison County — the most common reported hazard around Mount Crested Butte, mostly in February and January. Next come avalanches (25 days) and high winds (22 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 339 | Apr 2026 | Sep 8, 2020 · $15,000 damage |
| Avalanches | 25 | Apr 2025 | Feb 6, 1999 · 3 deaths |
| High winds | 22 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Debris flows | 16 | Aug 2024 | Apr 19, 2007 · $50,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 12 | Dec 2023 | Jul 26, 2023 · $2.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 10 | Aug 2023 | Jun 21, 2019 · 1 death |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 7 | Jan 2025 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 6 | Jul 2020 | Jul 28, 1996 · $35,000 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 West Elk and Sawatch Mountains forecast zone and Gunnison County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Mount Crested Butte get?
A normal year brings about 203 inches of snow to Mount Crested Butte, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Crested Butte weather station 2.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (42.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.5 | 25.3 | 35.1 | 42.2 | 35.2 | 29.1 | 19.4 | 6.7 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Mount Crested Butte?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGJX (Grand Junction, CO), about 68 miles west. 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 Mount Crested Butte | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KGJX Grand Junction, CO | 68 mi west | 5,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 143 mi east-northeast | 16,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 153 mi east | 18,800 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 Mount Crested Butte
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 2 tornadoes within 25 miles of Mount Crested Butte, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. The strongest was an F2 on June 20, 1975, which touched down about 24 miles northwest of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on May 29, 2021, which touched down about 10 miles northwest of town.
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 Mount Crested Butte'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.
Mount Crested Butte radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Mount Crested Butte, CO?
KGJX (Grand Junction, CO), about 68 miles west. KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO) is 143 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Mount Crested Butte?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Mount Crested Butte the lowest scan from KGJX is about 5,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Mount Crested Butte 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 Mount Crested Butte, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Crested Butte, CO radar 3 mi
- Aspen, CO radar 21 mi
- Snowmass Village, CO radar 21 mi
- Gunnison, CO radar 25 mi
- Basalt, CO radar 32 mi
- Paonia, CO radar 34 mi
- Carbondale, CO radar 36 mi
- Leadville, CO radar 43 mi
- Buena Vista, CO radar 45 mi
- Glenwood Springs, CO radar 49 mi