Purple Sage, WY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Purple Sage, Sweetwater County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Purple Sage?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 69 days in the Rock Springs and Green River forecast zone and Sweetwater County — the most common reported hazard around Purple Sage, mostly in June and July. Next come heavy snow & winter storms (42 days) and high winds (29 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 69 | Jun 2026 | May 28, 2014 · $15,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 42 | Mar 2024 | Apr 8, 2013 · $20,000 damage |
| High winds | 29 | Mar 2026 | Mar 17, 2013 · $25,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 8 | Aug 2024 | Jul 28, 2021 · $750,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 5 | Aug 2002 | Apr 13, 2002 · $261,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 4 | Feb 2023 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 4 | Dec 2022 | — |
| Flooding | 4 | Mar 2017 | — |
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 Rock Springs and Green River forecast zone and Sweetwater County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Purple Sage get?
A normal year brings about 31 inches of snow to Purple Sage, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Rock Springs Fire Dept weather station 4.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (6.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3 | 3.8 | 6.5 | 6.1 | 5.8 | 4.4 | 1.9 | 0.5 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Purple Sage?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRIW (Riverton, WY), about 113 miles north-northeast. 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 Purple Sage | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRIW Riverton, WY | 113 mi north-northeast | 11,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KMTX Salt Lake City, UT | 163 mi west | 20,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KGJX Grand Junction, CO | 182 mi south-southeast | 24,900 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 Purple Sage
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 8 tornadoes within 25 miles of Purple Sage. Most came in June and April. The strongest was an F1 on July 31, 1978, which touched down about 8 miles east-northeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 7, 2014, which touched down about 25 miles north of town.
Hail: 3 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.00-inch hail on May 26, 2023.
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 Purple Sage'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.
Purple Sage radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Purple Sage, WY?
KRIW (Riverton, WY), about 113 miles north-northeast. KMTX (Salt Lake City, UT) is 163 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Purple Sage?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Purple Sage the lowest scan from KRIW is about 11,600 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Purple Sage 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 Purple Sage, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Rock Springs, WY radar 6 mi
- Green River, WY radar 8 mi
- Lyman, WY radar 53 mi
- Mountain View, WY radar 56 mi