Fort Defiance, AZ Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Fort Defiance, Apache County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Fort Defiance?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 73 days in the Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau forecast zone and Apache County — the most common reported hazard around Fort Defiance, mostly in July and August. Next come high winds (54 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (30 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 73 | Aug 2024 | Sep 14, 2013 · $100,000 damage |
| High winds | 54 | May 2026 | Apr 15, 2009 · $50,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 30 | Apr 2025 | Jan 12, 1997 · 1 death |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 16 | Sep 2025 | Jul 30, 2012 · $4,000 damage |
| Flooding | 9 | Oct 2025 | — |
| Dust storms | 5 | Mar 2014 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 5 | Sep 2013 | Sep 20, 2013 · 1 death |
| Wildfires | 3 | Jun 2012 | — |
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 Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau forecast zone and Apache County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Fort Defiance?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 133 miles east-southeast. 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 Fort Defiance | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 133 mi east-southeast | 15,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFSX Flagstaff, AZ | 145 mi west-southwest | 17,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KIWA Phoenix, AZ | 225 mi southwest | 35,800 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 Fort Defiance
NOAA has no tornado on record within 25 miles of Fort Defiance since 1950.
Hail: 4 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on September 1, 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 Fort Defiance'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.
Fort Defiance radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Fort Defiance, AZ?
KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 133 miles east-southeast. KFSX (Flagstaff, AZ) is 145 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Fort Defiance?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Fort Defiance the lowest scan from KABX is about 15,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Fort Defiance 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 Fort Defiance, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.