Sterling, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Sterling, Logan County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Sterling?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 98 days in the Logan County forecast zone and Logan County — the most common reported hazard around Sterling, mostly in June and August. Next come high winds (90 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (28 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 98 | Jun 2026 | Jun 23, 2009 · 1 death · $75,000 damage |
| High winds | 90 | Mar 2026 | May 20, 2001 · $303,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 28 | Mar 2024 | — |
| Blizzards | 18 | Dec 2022 | — |
| Flash flooding | 17 | Jun 2024 | Jul 30, 1997 · $13 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 10 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 5 | Apr 2021 | Sep 16, 2013 · $5.8 million damage |
| Wildfires | 2 | Feb 2026 | Mar 6, 2017 · $1.0 million 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 Logan County forecast zone and Logan County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Sterling get?
A normal year brings about 37 inches of snow to Sterling, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Leroy 5 Wsw weather station 12.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (6.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3 | 5.0 | 6.2 | 4.7 | 6.4 | 5.6 | 5.1 | 0.9 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Sterling?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 92 miles southwest. 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 Sterling | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 92 mi southwest | 8,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 92 mi west-northwest | 8,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KGLD Goodland, KS | 117 mi southeast | 12,300 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 Sterling
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 118 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sterling, 9 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F3 on July 5, 2000, which passed about 25 miles east of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on July 11, 2025, which touched down about 12 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 443 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 65 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on August 8, 2023.
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 Sterling'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.
Sterling radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Sterling, CO?
KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 92 miles southwest. KCYS (Cheyenne, WY) is 92 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Sterling?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Sterling the lowest scan from KFTG is about 8,400 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Sterling 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 Sterling, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Julesburg, CO radar 55 mi