Orchard City, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Orchard City, Delta County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Orchard City?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 46 days in the Central Gunnison and Uncompahgre River Basin forecast zone and Delta County — the most common reported hazard around Orchard City, mostly in December and February. Next come high winds (35 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (18 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 46 | Mar 2024 | — |
| High winds | 35 | May 2026 | May 21, 2002 · $100,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 18 | Aug 2023 | Aug 19, 2010 · $2.0 million damage |
| Flooding | 9 | May 2023 | Aug 22, 2001 · $100,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 8 | Jul 2019 | May 2, 1998 · $1.5 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 7 | Jan 2025 | Dec 4, 2005 · $100,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 3 | Apr 2024 | Apr 14, 2024 · $65,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Aug 2003 | Oct 9, 2001 · $28,000 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 Central Gunnison and Uncompahgre River Basin forecast zone and Delta County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Orchard City get?
A normal year brings about 40 inches of snow to Orchard City, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Cedaredge 3E weather station 7.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (9.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 3.3 | 9.2 | 9.8 | 8.1 | 6.2 | 2.6 | 0.5 |
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 City?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGJX (Grand Junction, CO), about 21 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 Orchard City | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KGJX Grand Junction, CO | 21 mi northwest | 1,200 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 195 mi east-northeast | 28,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 206 mi east | 30,700 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 City
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 7 tornadoes within 25 miles of Orchard City. Most came in September and July. The strongest was an F1 on May 6, 2005, which touched down about 13 miles south of town. The most recent was an EF1 on July 9, 2015, which touched down about 19 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 6 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on August 30, 2000.
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 City'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 City radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Orchard City, CO?
KGJX (Grand Junction, CO), about 21 miles northwest. KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO) is 195 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Orchard City?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Orchard City the lowest scan from KGJX is about 1,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Orchard City 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 City, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Cedaredge, CO radar 6 mi
- Delta, CO radar 8 mi
- Olathe, CO radar 15 mi
- Paonia, CO radar 21 mi
- Montrose, CO radar 25 mi
- Palisade, CO radar 29 mi
- Grand Junction, CO radar 37 mi
- Parachute, CO radar 44 mi
- Ridgway, CO radar 47 mi
- Fruita, CO radar 47 mi