Vail, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Vail, Eagle County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Vail?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 315 days in the Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys forecast zone and Eagle County — the most common reported hazard around Vail, mostly in February and December. Next come avalanches (45 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (25 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 315 | Feb 2026 | Mar 29, 2008 · 1 death |
| Avalanches | 45 | Mar 2026 | Mar 13, 2007 · 2 deaths · $1,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 25 | May 2024 | May 25, 2024 · $1.0 million damage |
| High winds | 20 | Mar 2026 | May 21, 2002 · $10,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 20 | Feb 2022 | Jul 28, 1999 · $350,000 damage |
| Debris flows | 14 | Aug 2024 | Jul 22, 2021 · $500,000 damage |
| Flooding | 12 | Aug 2023 | Jun 23, 2023 · 1 death |
| Wildfires | 12 | Oct 2021 | Aug 1, 2018 · $3.5 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 Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys forecast zone and Eagle County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Vail get?
A normal year brings about 189 inches of snow to Vail, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Vail weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually February (35.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.6 | 25.9 | 28.0 | 35.3 | 35.7 | 28.2 | 21.2 | 4.8 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Vail?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 97 miles east. 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 Vail | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 97 mi east | 9,200 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KGJX Grand Junction, CO | 107 mi west-southwest | 10,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 133 mi northeast | 15,000 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 Vail
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 2 tornadoes within 25 miles of Vail. The strongest was an F1 on April 6, 1974, which touched down about 24 miles west of town. The most recent was an F0 on June 30, 2004, which touched down about 22 miles west of town.
Hail: 1 report of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.00-inch hail on June 12, 1988.
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 Vail'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.
Vail radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Vail, CO?
KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO), about 97 miles east. KGJX (Grand Junction, CO) is 107 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Vail?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Vail the lowest scan from KFTG is about 9,200 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Vail 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 Vail, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Avon, CO radar 8 mi
- Silverthorne, CO radar 15 mi
- Frisco, CO radar 15 mi
- Dillon, CO radar 17 mi
- Breckenridge, CO radar 20 mi
- Eagle, CO radar 24 mi
- Leadville, CO radar 27 mi
- Kremmling, CO radar 29 mi
- Gypsum, CO radar 32 mi
- Winter Park, CO radar 35 mi