Sunsites, AZ Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Sunsites, Cochise County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for SunsitesWhat TALON shows

What weather hits Sunsites?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 181 days in the Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet including Douglas/Willcox forecast zone and Cochise County — the most common reported hazard around Sunsites, mostly in July and August. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (146 days) and excessive heat (45 days).

HazardDays reportedMost recentWorst on record
Flash flooding181Jun 2026Aug 6, 1997 · 6 deaths
Damaging thunderstorm winds146Sep 2025Aug 24, 2010 · $1.0 million damage
Excessive heat45May 2026Jun 25, 2024 · 2 deaths
Dust storms24Apr 2026Apr 28, 2016 · $500,000 damage
High winds14Mar 2025Feb 22, 2023 · $10,000 damage
Flooding14Oct 2025Aug 24, 2022 · $1.5 million damage
Lightning casualties & damage13Aug 2023Jun 30, 2015 · 1 death
Wildfires8May 2025Feb 23, 2022 · $150,000 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 Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet including Douglas/Willcox forecast zone and Cochise County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

How much snow does Sunsites get?

A normal year brings about 1.2 inches of snow to Sunsites, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Pearce - Sunsites weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually January (0.7 in).

OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay
0.00.20.00.70.20.10.00.0

Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.

Which radars cover Sunsites?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KEMX (Tucson, AZ), about 46 miles west. 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.

RadarDistanceLowest beam over SunsitesView
KEMX
Tucson, AZ		46 mi west3,200 ftGood — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly
KIWA
Phoenix, AZ		141 mi northwest16,500 ftLimited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KEPZ
El Paso, TX		184 mi east25,500 ftLimited — 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 Sunsites

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 8 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sunsites. Most came in July and September. The strongest was an EF1 on September 23, 2019, which touched down about 23 miles north of town.

Hail: 16 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on July 25, 2003.

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 Sunsites'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.

Sunsites radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Sunsites, AZ?

KEMX (Tucson, AZ), about 46 miles west. KIWA (Phoenix, AZ) is 141 miles away and also covers the area.

Does radar show snow in Sunsites?

Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Sunsites the lowest scan from KEMX is about 3,200 ft up.

Is TALON's radar for Sunsites 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 Sunsites, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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