Southern Ute, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Southern Ute, La Plata County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Southern Ute?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 105 days in the Animas River Basin forecast zone and La Plata County — the most common reported hazard around Southern Ute, mostly in January and February. Next come flash flooding (45 days) and wildfires (26 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 105 | Feb 2025 | Nov 8, 1998 · $300,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 45 | Jun 2022 | Jul 24, 2018 · $2.0 million damage |
| Wildfires | 26 | Aug 2025 | Jul 1, 2002 · $8.0 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 22 | Sep 2024 | Apr 29, 1999 · $1.0 million damage |
| High winds | 20 | May 2026 | Apr 29, 1999 · $10,000 damage |
| Debris flows | 15 | Oct 2025 | Aug 7, 2022 · $1,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 12 | Jun 2020 | Jun 6, 2020 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 11 | Oct 2025 | May 22, 2005 · $32,000 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 Animas River Basin forecast zone and La Plata County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Southern Ute get?
A normal year brings about 34 inches of snow to Southern Ute, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Ignacio 6Ese weather station 3.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (9.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 2.0 | 9.1 | 8.9 | 9.8 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 0.2 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Southern Ute?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 140 miles south-southeast. 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 Southern Ute | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 140 mi south-southeast | 16,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KGJX Grand Junction, CO | 141 mi north-northwest | 16,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 210 mi east-northeast | 31,600 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 Southern Ute
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 5 tornadoes within 25 miles of Southern Ute. Most came in August and May. The strongest was an F1 on October 5, 2004, which touched down about 16 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 23 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 1 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.50-inch hail on September 22, 2013.
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 Southern Ute'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.
Southern Ute radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Southern Ute, CO?
KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 140 miles south-southeast. KGJX (Grand Junction, CO) is 141 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Southern Ute?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Southern Ute the lowest scan from KABX is about 16,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Southern Ute 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 Southern Ute, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Bayfield, CO radar 11 mi
- Durango, CO radar 20 mi
- Pagosa Springs, CO radar 35 mi
- Mancos, CO radar 43 mi
- Cortez, CO radar 57 mi
- Mountain Village, CO radar 61 mi
- Telluride, CO radar 61 mi