Tombstone, AZ Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Tombstone, Cochise County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Tombstone?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 181 days in the Upper San Pedro River Valley including Sierra Vista/Benson forecast zone and Cochise County — the most common reported hazard around Tombstone, mostly in July and August. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (146 days) and excessive heat (41 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 181 | Jun 2026 | Aug 6, 1997 · 6 deaths |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 146 | Sep 2025 | Aug 24, 2010 · $1.0 million damage |
| Excessive heat | 41 | Jun 2026 | Jul 3, 2023 · 3 deaths |
| High winds | 18 | Apr 2026 | Oct 11, 2021 · $75,000 damage |
| Flooding | 14 | Oct 2025 | Aug 24, 2022 · $1.5 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 13 | Aug 2023 | Jun 30, 2015 · 1 death |
| Wildfires | 12 | Jul 2023 | Jun 20, 2017 · $750,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 6 | Mar 2023 | Jan 2, 2019 · $5,000 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 Upper San Pedro River Valley including Sierra Vista/Benson forecast zone and Cochise County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Tombstone get?
A normal year brings about 1.2 inches of snow to Tombstone, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Tombstone weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually January (0.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 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 Tombstone?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KEMX (Tucson, AZ), about 35 miles west-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 Tombstone | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KEMX Tucson, AZ | 35 mi west-northwest | 2,200 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KIWA Phoenix, AZ | 143 mi northwest | 16,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KEPZ El Paso, TX | 199 mi east | 28,900 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 Tombstone
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 9 tornadoes within 25 miles of Tombstone. Most came in July and August. The strongest was an F1 on July 16, 1971, which touched down about 18 miles southwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on July 29, 2017, which touched down about 10 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 40 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 2 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on September 7, 2021.
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 Tombstone'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.
Tombstone radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Tombstone, AZ?
KEMX (Tucson, AZ), about 35 miles west-northwest. KIWA (Phoenix, AZ) is 143 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Tombstone?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Tombstone the lowest scan from KEMX is about 2,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Tombstone 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 Tombstone, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Huachuca City, AZ radar 17 mi
- Sierra Vista, AZ radar 18 mi
- Benson, AZ radar 20 mi
- Bisbee, AZ radar 24 mi
- Douglas, AZ radar 39 mi
- Willcox, AZ radar 39 mi
- Sahuarita, AZ radar 54 mi
- Tucson, AZ radar 55 mi
- Nogales, AZ radar 56 mi
- South Tucson, AZ radar 62 mi