Palmer Lake, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Palmer Lake, El Paso County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Palmer Lake?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 121 days in the Northern El Paso County/Monument Ridge/Rampart Range Below 7500 Ft forecast zone and El Paso County — the most common reported hazard around Palmer Lake, mostly in March and February. Next come flash flooding (114 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (81 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 121 | May 2026 | Apr 24, 2007 · $250,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 114 | Aug 2025 | Jun 21, 2005 · 2 deaths · $100,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 81 | Aug 2025 | May 22, 2006 · $1.3 million damage |
| High winds | 76 | Mar 2026 | Dec 30, 2008 · $2.0 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 50 | Aug 2017 | Sep 2, 2007 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 13 | Jun 2023 | Sep 12, 2013 · 1 death |
| Blizzards | 10 | Dec 2023 | — |
| Wildfires | 8 | Jun 2013 | Jun 26, 2012 · 2 deaths · $400 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 Northern El Paso County/Monument Ridge/Rampart Range Below 7500 Ft forecast zone and El Paso County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Palmer Lake get?
A normal year brings about 121 inches of snow to Palmer Lake, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Monument weather station 2.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually March (24.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11.1 | 18.4 | 13.4 | 14.4 | 10.9 | 24.2 | 23.7 | 3.3 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Palmer Lake?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 50 miles north-northeast. 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 Palmer Lake | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 50 mi north-northeast | 3,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 60 mi southeast | 4,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 141 mi north | 16,400 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 Palmer Lake
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 103 tornadoes within 25 miles of Palmer Lake, 8 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F3 on June 24, 1979, which passed about 18 miles south of town. The most recent was an EF1 on July 30, 2025, which touched down about 14 miles west-southwest of town.
Hail: 1,220 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 107 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.25-inch hail on August 10, 2004.
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 Palmer Lake'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.
Palmer Lake radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Palmer Lake, CO?
KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 50 miles north-northeast. KPUX (Pueblo, CO) is 60 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Palmer Lake?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Palmer Lake the lowest scan from KFTG is about 3,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Palmer Lake 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 Palmer Lake, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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