Sunshine, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Sunshine, Boulder County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Sunshine?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged high winds on 182 days in the Larimer and Boulder Counties Between 6000 and 9000 Feet forecast zone and Boulder County — the most common reported hazard around Sunshine, mostly in January and December. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (167 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (28 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| High winds | 182 | Mar 2026 | Apr 8, 1999 · $7.2 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 167 | May 2026 | Mar 17, 2003 · $16 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 28 | Jul 2024 | Jun 15, 2009 · $20,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 28 | Jul 2019 | Jul 14, 2019 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 18 | Jul 2021 | Sep 11, 2013 · 3 deaths |
| Wildfires | 9 | Aug 2024 | Sep 6, 2010 · $217 million damage |
| Flooding | 5 | May 2015 | Sep 12, 2013 · $297 million damage |
| Blizzards | 1 | Oct 1997 | — |
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 Larimer and Boulder Counties Between 6000 and 9000 Feet forecast zone and Boulder County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Sunshine get?
A normal year brings about 184 inches of snow to Sunshine, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Ward 4.6 Ne weather station 4.9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually April (34.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18.1 | 13.5 | 24.6 | 15.8 | 28.0 | 29.9 | 34.9 | 17.9 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Sunshine?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 48 miles east-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 Sunshine | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 48 mi east-southeast | 3,300 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 81 mi north-northeast | 7,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 128 mi south-southeast | 14,100 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 Sunshine
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 44 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sunshine, 5 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an EF3 on June 4, 2015, which passed about 17 miles north-northeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 18, 2018, which touched down about 23 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 584 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 47 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on June 18, 2018.
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 Sunshine'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.
Sunshine radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Sunshine, CO?
KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 48 miles east-southeast. KCYS (Cheyenne, WY) is 81 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Sunshine?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Sunshine the lowest scan from KFTG is about 3,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Sunshine 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 Sunshine, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Boulder, CO radar 7 mi
- Nederland, CO radar 10 mi
- Lyons, CO radar 12 mi
- Louisville, CO radar 14 mi
- Superior, CO radar 14 mi
- Lafayette, CO radar 15 mi
- Longmont, CO radar 16 mi
- Erie, CO radar 18 mi
- Broomfield, CO radar 19 mi
- Arvada, CO radar 20 mi