Carpenter, WY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Carpenter, Laramie County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Carpenter?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 108 days in the East Laramie County forecast zone and Laramie County — the most common reported hazard around Carpenter, mostly in June and July. Next come high winds (81 days) and flash flooding (55 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 108 | Jun 2026 | Jun 25, 2026 · $1.0 million damage |
| High winds | 81 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Flash flooding | 55 | Jul 2025 | Jul 20, 2023 · $60,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 42 | Feb 2024 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 9 | Jan 2025 | — |
| Blizzards | 8 | Dec 2023 | — |
| Flooding | 5 | Jul 1998 | Aug 29, 1996 · $30,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | Jun 1996 | — |
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 East Laramie County forecast zone and Laramie County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Carpenter get?
A normal year brings about 35 inches of snow to Carpenter, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Carpenter 3N weather station 2.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually March (6.7 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.8 | 6.0 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 5.4 | 6.7 | 4.6 | 0.8 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Carpenter?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KCYS (Cheyenne, WY), about 24 miles west-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 Carpenter | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 24 mi west-northwest | 1,400 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KFTG Denver/Boulder, CO | 88 mi south | 7,900 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 179 mi south | 24,300 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 Carpenter
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 106 tornadoes within 25 miles of Carpenter, 5 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F3 on July 16, 1979, which passed about 18 miles west of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was an EF0 on June 17, 2025, which touched down about 22 miles east of town.
Hail: 562 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 62 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 5.00-inch hail on June 8, 1968.
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 Carpenter'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.
Carpenter radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Carpenter, WY?
KCYS (Cheyenne, WY), about 24 miles west-northwest. KFTG (Denver/Boulder, CO) is 88 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Carpenter?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Carpenter the lowest scan from KCYS is about 1,400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Carpenter 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 Carpenter, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Pine Bluffs, WY radar 18 mi
- Cheyenne, WY radar 23 mi