Orchard, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Orchard, Morgan County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Orchard?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 80 days in the Morgan County forecast zone and Morgan County — the most common reported hazard around Orchard, mostly in June and July. Next come high winds (71 days) and flash flooding (27 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 80 | Jun 2026 | Jun 26, 2009 · $100,000 damage |
| High winds | 71 | Feb 2026 | May 20, 2001 · $259,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 27 | Aug 2024 | Jul 29, 1997 · $2.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 25 | Mar 2023 | — |
| Blizzards | 14 | Dec 2022 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 10 | Jul 2021 | Aug 3, 2000 · $15,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 9 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 8 | Jun 2015 | Sep 15, 2013 · $31 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 Morgan County forecast zone and Morgan County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Orchard get?
A normal year brings about 23 inches of snow to Orchard, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Ft Morgan weather station 14 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (4.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1 | 2.7 | 4.4 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 1.7 | 0.3 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Orchard?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 44 miles south-southwest. 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 Orchard | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 44 mi south-southwest | 3,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 67 mi north-northwest | 5,300 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 129 mi south | 14,300 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 Orchard
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 156 tornadoes within 25 miles of Orchard, 12 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F3 on May 15, 1952, which passed about 19 miles west-southwest of town. The most recent was an EF1 on May 27, 2025, which touched down about 19 miles northeast of town.
Hail: 389 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 66 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 22, 1979.
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 Orchard'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.
Orchard radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Orchard, CO?
KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 44 miles south-southwest. KCYS (Cheyenne, WY) is 67 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Orchard?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Orchard the lowest scan from KFTG is about 3,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Orchard 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 Orchard, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Wiggins, CO radar 8 mi
- Fort Morgan, CO radar 18 mi
- Kersey, CO radar 25 mi
- Brush, CO radar 26 mi
- Keenesburg, CO radar 26 mi
- Hudson, CO radar 30 mi
- La Salle, CO radar 31 mi
- Evans, CO radar 33 mi
- Eaton, CO radar 34 mi
- Greeley, CO radar 35 mi