San Luis, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for San Luis, Costilla County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits San Luis?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 65 days in the Southern San Luis Valley forecast zone and Costilla County — the most common reported hazard around San Luis, mostly in March and January. Next come high winds (43 days) and flash flooding (10 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 65 | Jan 2026 | Feb 18, 1998 · 1 death |
| High winds | 43 | Dec 2021 | Apr 19, 1996 · $300,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 10 | Jul 2022 | Sep 6, 2019 · $150,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 6 | Jan 1997 | — |
| Flooding | 2 | May 1999 | Apr 30, 1999 · $14 million damage |
| Blizzards | 1 | Oct 1997 | Oct 24, 1997 · 4 deaths · $300,000 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 Southern San Luis Valley forecast zone and Costilla County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover San Luis?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPUX (Pueblo, CO), about 110 miles 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 San Luis | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 110 mi northeast | 11,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 162 mi south-southwest | 20,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 185 mi north-northeast | 25,600 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 San Luis
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 8 tornadoes within 25 miles of San Luis, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and June. The strongest was an F3 on July 31, 1955, which touched down about 16 miles north of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 6, 2021, which touched down about 19 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 5 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on July 22, 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 San Luis'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.
San Luis radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to San Luis, CO?
KPUX (Pueblo, CO), about 110 miles northeast. KABX (Albuquerque, NM) is 162 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in San Luis?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over San Luis the lowest scan from KPUX is about 11,100 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for San Luis 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 San Luis, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Alamosa, CO radar 31 mi
- Walsenburg, CO radar 46 mi
- Monte Vista, CO radar 48 mi
- Trinidad, CO radar 51 mi
- Center, CO radar 54 mi
- Del Norte, CO radar 61 mi