Pitkin, CO Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Pitkin, Gunnison County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

What weather hits Pitkin?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 339 days in the West Elk and Sawatch Mountains forecast zone and Gunnison County — the most common reported hazard around Pitkin, mostly in February and January. Next come avalanches (25 days) and high winds (22 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Heavy snow & winter storms339Apr 2026Sep 8, 2020 · $15,000 damage
Avalanches25Apr 2025Feb 6, 1999 · 3 deaths
High winds22Mar 2026—
Debris flows16Aug 2024Apr 19, 2007 · $50,000 damage
Wildfires12Dec 2023Jul 26, 2023 · $2.0 million damage
Flooding10Aug 2023Jun 21, 2019 · 1 death
Extreme cold & wind chill7Jan 2025—
Lightning casualties & damage6Jul 2020Jul 28, 1996 · $35,000 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 West Elk and Sawatch Mountains forecast zone and Gunnison County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

How much snow does Pitkin get?

A normal year brings about 105 inches of snow to Pitkin, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Sargents weather station 15 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (21.5 in).

OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
3.611.819.621.519.014.612.12.7

Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.

Which radars cover Pitkin?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGJX (Grand Junction, CO), about 97 miles west-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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over PitkinView
KGJX
Grand Junction, CO
97 mi west-northwest9,100 ftFair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation
KPUX
Pueblo, CO
127 mi east13,800 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KFTG
Denver/Boulder, CO
133 mi northeast15,000 ftLimited — 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 Pitkin

NOAA has no tornado on record within 25 miles of Pitkin since 1950.

Hail: 5 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on June 5, 2016.

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 Pitkin'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.

Pitkin radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Pitkin, CO?

KGJX (Grand Junction, CO), about 97 miles west-northwest. KPUX (Pueblo, CO) is 127 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Pitkin?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Pitkin the lowest scan from KGJX is about 9,100 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.

Is TALON's radar for Pitkin 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 Pitkin, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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