Otis, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Otis, Washington County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Otis?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 117 days in the Washington County forecast zone and Washington County — the most common reported hazard around Otis, mostly in June and July. Next come high winds (79 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (27 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 117 | Jun 2026 | Sep 19, 1998 · $200,000 damage |
| High winds | 79 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 27 | Nov 2024 | — |
| Blizzards | 26 | Dec 2023 | — |
| Flash flooding | 22 | Jun 2023 | Sep 29, 2014 · $200,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 10 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 5 | Jun 2023 | Sep 15, 2013 · $10 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Jun 2005 | Jun 2, 2005 · $25,000 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 Washington County forecast zone and Washington County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Otis get?
A normal year brings about 27 inches of snow to Otis, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Yuma 10 Nw weather station 8.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (5.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 | 3.7 | 5.0 | 3.9 | 5.0 | 3.8 | 3.2 | 0.2 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Otis?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGLD (Goodland, KS), about 86 miles southeast. 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 Otis | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KGLD Goodland, KS | 86 mi southeast | 7,700 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 88 mi west-southwest | 7,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 119 mi northwest | 12,500 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 Otis
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 180 tornadoes within 25 miles of Otis, 11 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an EF3 on August 8, 2023, which passed about 3 miles east of town. The most recent was an EF2 on May 23, 2025, which passed about 17 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 482 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 101 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on August 11, 2019.
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 Otis'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.
Otis radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Otis, CO?
KGLD (Goodland, KS), about 86 miles southeast. KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO) is 88 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Otis?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Otis the lowest scan from KGLD is about 7,700 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Otis 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 Otis, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Yuma, CO radar 13 mi
- Akron, CO radar 14 mi
- Sterling, CO radar 35 mi
- Brush, CO radar 36 mi
- Wray, CO radar 39 mi
- Fort Morgan, CO radar 44 mi
- Holyoke, CO radar 46 mi
- Wiggins, CO radar 59 mi