Rawlins, WY Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Rawlins, Carbon County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Rawlins?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged high winds on 159 days in the Central Carbon County forecast zone and Carbon County — the most common reported hazard around Rawlins, mostly in December and February. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (64 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (55 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| High winds | 159 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 64 | Jun 2026 | Apr 14, 2000 · $100,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 55 | May 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 18 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 8 | Apr 2023 | Mar 13, 2019 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 5 | Aug 2022 | Jul 19, 2011 · 4 deaths |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | Sep 2002 | Sep 17, 2002 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 3 | Aug 2023 | — |
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 Central Carbon County forecast zone and Carbon County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Rawlins?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KRIW (Riverton, WY), about 109 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 Rawlins | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRIW Riverton, WY | 109 mi northwest | 11,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KCYS Cheyenne, WY | 133 mi east-southeast | 14,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KGJX Grand Junction, CO | 195 mi south-southwest | 28,100 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 Rawlins
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 10 tornadoes within 25 miles of Rawlins. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F1 on May 29, 1964, which touched down about 15 miles north of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on May 17, 2021, which touched down about 2 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 10 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on May 11, 2018.
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 Rawlins'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.
Rawlins radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Rawlins, WY?
KRIW (Riverton, WY), about 109 miles northwest. KCYS (Cheyenne, WY) is 133 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Rawlins?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Rawlins the lowest scan from KRIW is about 11,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Rawlins 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 Rawlins, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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