Albuquerque, NM Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Albuquerque, Bernalillo County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Albuquerque?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 72 days in the Middle Rio Grande Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area forecast zone and Bernalillo County — the most common reported hazard around Albuquerque, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (71 days) and high winds (39 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 72 | Jun 2026 | Jul 26, 2013 · $1.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 71 | Sep 2025 | Jul 20, 2021 · 3 deaths |
| High winds | 39 | Apr 2026 | Sep 8, 2020 · $250,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 11 | Nov 2024 | Feb 2, 2022 · 1 death |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 11 | Jul 2018 | Aug 14, 1996 · 1 death |
| Wildfires | 4 | Mar 2026 | Jun 21, 2025 · $4.0 million damage |
| Dust storms | 4 | Jun 2025 | Jun 19, 2024 · $100,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 1 | Feb 2021 | — |
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 Middle Rio Grande Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area forecast zone and Bernalillo County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Albuquerque get?
A normal year brings about 7.9 inches of snow to Albuquerque, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Albuquerque Intl Ap weather station 4.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (2.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 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 Albuquerque?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 10 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 Albuquerque | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 10 mi west-northwest | 500 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KHDX Holloman AFB, NM | 143 mi south-southeast | 16,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFDX Cannon AFB, NM | 175 mi east | 23,300 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 Albuquerque
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 25 tornadoes within 25 miles of Albuquerque, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and August. The strongest was an F2 on October 10, 1974, which touched down about 24 miles west of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on August 19, 2025, which touched down about 11 miles north-northeast of town.
Hail: 112 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 6 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on September 30, 1998.
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 Albuquerque'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.
Albuquerque radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Albuquerque, NM?
KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 10 miles west-northwest. KHDX (Holloman AFB, NM) is 143 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Albuquerque?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Albuquerque the lowest scan from KABX is about 500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Albuquerque 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 Albuquerque, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM radar 4 mi
- Corrales, NM radar 9 mi
- Rio Rancho, NM radar 13 mi
- Bernalillo, NM radar 15 mi
- Bosque Farms, NM radar 18 mi
- Peralta, NM radar 19 mi
- Los Lunas, NM radar 22 mi
- Edgewood, NM radar 24 mi
- Belen, NM radar 25 mi
- Rio Communities, NM radar 32 mi