Thornton, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Thornton, Adams County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Thornton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 104 days in the North Douglas County Below 6000 Feet/Denver/West Adams and Arapahoe Counties/East Broomfield County forecast zone and Adams County — the most common reported hazard around Thornton, mostly in March and April. Next come high winds (92 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (67 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 104 | May 2026 | — |
| High winds | 92 | Dec 2025 | Dec 28, 1997 · $120,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 67 | Aug 2025 | May 26, 2000 · $70,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 17 | Sep 2011 | Jun 21, 2006 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 17 | Aug 2025 | Aug 17, 2000 · 1 death |
| Blizzards | 9 | Mar 2021 | Dec 20, 2006 · 2 deaths |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 7 | Jan 2025 | Dec 18, 1998 · 3 deaths |
| Excessive heat | 5 | Jun 2012 | — |
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 North Douglas County Below 6000 Feet/Denver/West Adams and Arapahoe Counties/East Broomfield County forecast zone and Adams County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Thornton get?
A normal year brings about 45 inches of snow to Thornton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Northglenn weather station 4.1 miles away. The snowiest month is usually March (8.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 | 6.9 | 5.9 | 6.0 | 7.6 | 8.2 | 6.5 | 1.2 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Thornton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 23 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 Thornton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 23 mi east-southeast | 1,300 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 85 mi north | 7,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 109 mi south-southeast | 10,900 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 Thornton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 237 tornadoes within 25 miles of Thornton, 22 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an EF3 on May 22, 2008, which passed about 24 miles north-northeast of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on July 14, 2025, which touched down about 19 miles east-northeast of town.
Hail: 1,412 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 120 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on July 13, 2011.
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 Thornton'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.
Thornton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Thornton, CO?
KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 23 miles east-southeast. KCYS (Cheyenne, WY) is 85 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Thornton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Thornton the lowest scan from KFTG is about 1,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Thornton 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 Thornton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Northglenn, CO radar 2 mi
- Federal Heights, CO radar 5 mi
- Broomfield, CO radar 6 mi
- Westminster, CO radar 7 mi
- Commerce City, CO radar 8 mi
- Brighton, CO radar 8 mi
- Erie, CO radar 10 mi
- Lafayette, CO radar 10 mi
- Dacono, CO radar 10 mi
- Louisville, CO radar 11 mi