Mesa del Caballo, AZ Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Mesa del Caballo, Gila County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Mesa del Caballo?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 153 days in the Northern Gila County forecast zone and Gila County — the most common reported hazard around Mesa del Caballo, mostly in July and August. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (63 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (58 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 153 | Nov 2025 | Jul 15, 2017 · 10 deaths |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 63 | Sep 2025 | Sep 1, 2019 · $100,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 58 | Mar 2025 | Dec 7, 2009 · 1 death |
| Wildfires | 24 | Jun 2021 | Jul 3, 2020 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 21 | Oct 2025 | Nov 29, 2019 · 3 deaths · $50,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 9 | Sep 2009 | Aug 12, 2000 · 1 death |
| High winds | 5 | Jan 2022 | Jan 27, 2022 · $100,000 damage |
| Debris flows | 3 | Jul 2021 | Jul 27, 2020 · $50,000 damage |
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 Northern Gila County forecast zone and Gila County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Mesa del Caballo get?
A normal year brings about 19 inches of snow to Mesa del Caballo, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Payson weather station 4.6 miles away. The snowiest month is usually February (4.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 1.3 | 3.6 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Mesa del Caballo?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSX (Flagstaff, AZ), about 21 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 Mesa del Caballo | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSX Flagstaff, AZ | 21 mi north-northeast | 1,200 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KIWA Phoenix, AZ | 72 mi south-southwest | 5,900 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KEMX Tucson, AZ | 170 mi south-southeast | 22,200 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 Mesa del Caballo
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 4 tornadoes within 25 miles of Mesa del Caballo, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in September and October. The strongest was an EF2 on October 6, 2010, which passed about 11 miles north of town. The most recent was an EF1 on November 19, 2023, which touched down about 3 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 25 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 1 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on June 13, 1955.
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 Mesa del Caballo'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.
Mesa del Caballo radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Mesa del Caballo, AZ?
KFSX (Flagstaff, AZ), about 21 miles north-northeast. KIWA (Phoenix, AZ) is 72 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Mesa del Caballo?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Mesa del Caballo the lowest scan from KFSX is about 1,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Mesa del Caballo 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 Mesa del Caballo, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Payson, AZ radar 3 mi
- Star Valley, AZ radar 5 mi
- Camp Verde, AZ radar 38 mi
- Carefree, AZ radar 48 mi
- Sedona, AZ radar 49 mi
- Cave Creek, AZ radar 50 mi
- Cottonwood, AZ radar 51 mi
- Scottsdale, AZ radar 53 mi
- Fountain Hills, AZ radar 53 mi
- Clarkdale, AZ radar 54 mi