South Fork, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for South Fork, Rio Grande County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits South Fork?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 117 days in the Upper Rio Grande Valley/Eastern San Juan Mountains Below 10000 Ft forecast zone and Rio Grande County — the most common reported hazard around South Fork, mostly in March and February. Next come high winds (28 days) and wildfires (4 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 117 | Mar 2025 | Apr 2, 1998 · 1 death |
| High winds | 28 | May 2022 | Feb 10, 1999 · $20,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 4 | Jul 2013 | Jul 1, 2002 · $11 million damage |
| Avalanches | 2 | Feb 2016 | Mar 19, 2010 · 2 deaths |
| Flash flooding | 2 | Aug 2003 | — |
| Blizzards | 1 | Oct 1997 | Oct 24, 1997 · $50,000 damage |
| Debris flows | 1 | Aug 2006 | — |
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 Upper Rio Grande Valley/Eastern San Juan Mountains Below 10000 Ft forecast zone and Rio Grande County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover South Fork?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KGJX (Grand Junction, CO), about 128 miles 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.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over South Fork | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KGJX Grand Junction, CO | 128 mi northwest | 14,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 145 mi east-northeast | 17,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 174 mi south | 23,200 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 South Fork
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 3 tornadoes within 25 miles of South Fork, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and October. The strongest was an F2 on October 10, 1997, which passed about 12 miles west-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on September 25, 2012, which touched down about 16 miles east of town.
Hail: 9 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on September 29, 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 South Fork'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.
South Fork radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to South Fork, CO?
KGJX (Grand Junction, CO), about 128 miles northwest. KPUX (Pueblo, CO) is 145 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in South Fork?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over South Fork the lowest scan from KGJX is about 14,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for South Fork 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 South Fork, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Del Norte, CO radar 16 mi
- Monte Vista, CO radar 28 mi
- Center, CO radar 30 mi
- Pagosa Springs, CO radar 34 mi
- Alamosa, CO radar 44 mi
- Bayfield, CO radar 60 mi