Smeltertown, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Smeltertown, Chaffee County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Smeltertown?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 71 days in the Central Chaffee County Below 9000 Ft forecast zone and Chaffee County — the most common reported hazard around Smeltertown, mostly in March and April. Next come high winds (19 days) and flash flooding (16 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 71 | May 2026 | — |
| High winds | 19 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 16 | Aug 2022 | Aug 2, 2007 · $2.0 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 7 | Jul 2015 | Jul 17, 2015 · 1 death |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 3 | Jul 2023 | — |
| Debris flows | 2 | Aug 2022 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 1 | Dec 1996 | — |
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 Central Chaffee County Below 9000 Ft forecast zone and Chaffee County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Smeltertown get?
A normal year brings about 37 inches of snow to Smeltertown, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Salida weather station 1.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually April (8.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.6 | 4.1 | 4.7 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 6.5 | 8.0 | 2.7 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Smeltertown?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPUX (Pueblo, CO), about 99 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 Smeltertown | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 99 mi east | 9,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 116 mi northeast | 12,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KGJX Grand Junction, CO | 124 mi west-northwest | 13,400 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 Smeltertown
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 2 tornadoes within 25 miles of Smeltertown. The strongest was an F0 on May 5, 1991, which touched down about 2 miles south-southeast of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 9, 2024, which touched down about 25 miles south of town.
Hail: 10 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 Smeltertown'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.
Smeltertown radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Smeltertown, CO?
KPUX (Pueblo, CO), about 99 miles east. KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO) is 116 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Smeltertown?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Smeltertown the lowest scan from KPUX is about 9,500 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Smeltertown 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 Smeltertown, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Poncha Springs, CO radar 4 mi
- Buena Vista, CO radar 21 mi
- Cañon City, CO radar 43 mi
- Cripple Creek, CO radar 46 mi
- Gunnison, CO radar 50 mi
- Leadville, CO radar 50 mi
- Florence, CO radar 51 mi
- Center, CO radar 56 mi
- Crested Butte, CO radar 57 mi