Vilas, CO Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Vilas, Baca County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Vilas?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged high winds on 79 days in the Springfield Vicinity/Baca County forecast zone and Baca County — the most common reported hazard around Vilas, mostly in April and March. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (65 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (24 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| High winds | 79 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 65 | Aug 2025 | Jul 30, 2014 · 1 death · $30,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 24 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 10 | Aug 2025 | — |
| Wildfires | 7 | Apr 2018 | — |
| Blizzards | 5 | Jan 2024 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 1 | Jan 2005 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 1 | Dec 2022 | — |
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 Springfield Vicinity/Baca County forecast zone and Baca County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Vilas get?
A normal year brings about 23 inches of snow to Vilas, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Walsh 1 W weather station 8.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (5.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 2.6 | 5.3 | 4.5 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 1.8 | 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 Vilas?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPUX (Pueblo, CO), about 121 miles northwest. 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 Vilas | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 121 mi northwest | 12,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KDDC Dodge City, KS | 138 mi east-northeast | 15,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KGLD Goodland, KS | 144 mi north-northeast | 16,900 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 Vilas
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 73 tornadoes within 25 miles of Vilas, 3 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F2 on June 10, 1967, which passed about 8 miles northeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on July 13, 2023, which touched down about 22 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 262 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 50 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on May 17, 2001.
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 Vilas'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.
Vilas radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Vilas, CO?
KPUX (Pueblo, CO), about 121 miles northwest. KDDC (Dodge City, KS) is 138 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Vilas?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Vilas the lowest scan from KPUX is about 12,800 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Vilas 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 Vilas, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Springfield, CO radar 10 mi
- Lamar, CO radar 49 mi