Orchard Mesa, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Orchard Mesa, Mesa County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Orchard Mesa?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 81 days in the Grand Valley forecast zone and Mesa County — the most common reported hazard around Orchard Mesa, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (48 days) and high winds (39 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 81 | Sep 2025 | Jul 28, 2005 · $100,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 48 | Sep 2025 | Aug 5, 1997 · $250,000 damage |
| High winds | 39 | Feb 2026 | May 11, 2022 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 29 | Aug 2023 | May 6, 2023 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 26 | Feb 2023 | — |
| Debris flows | 19 | Aug 2025 | May 25, 2014 · 3 deaths · $25,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 17 | Jul 2024 | Jul 15, 2024 · $650,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 9 | Jul 2016 | Jul 17, 2013 · $60,000 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 Grand Valley forecast zone and Mesa County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Orchard Mesa get?
A normal year brings about 13 inches of snow to Orchard Mesa, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Grand Junction 6Ese weather station 3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (3.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 1.7 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 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 Orchard Mesa?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGJX (Grand Junction, CO), about 17 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 Orchard Mesa | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KGJX Grand Junction, CO | 17 mi east | 900 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 219 mi east-northeast | 34,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 237 mi east | 39,100 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 Mesa
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 8 tornadoes within 25 miles of Orchard Mesa. Most came in September and May. The strongest was an F1 on September 8, 2000, which touched down about 15 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF1 on July 9, 2015, which touched down about 23 miles east of town.
Hail: 28 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on June 6, 2025.
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 Mesa'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 Mesa radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Orchard Mesa, CO?
KGJX (Grand Junction, CO), about 17 miles east. KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO) is 219 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Orchard Mesa?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Orchard Mesa the lowest scan from KGJX is about 900 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Orchard Mesa 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 Mesa, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Grand Junction, CO radar 4 mi
- Palisade, CO radar 10 mi
- Fruita, CO radar 14 mi
- Delta, CO radar 30 mi
- Orchard City, CO radar 33 mi
- Cedaredge, CO radar 34 mi
- Parachute, CO radar 38 mi
- Olathe, CO radar 42 mi
- Paonia, CO radar 51 mi
- Rifle, CO radar 53 mi