Chamita, NM Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Chamita, Rio Arriba County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Chamita?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 34 days in the Espanola Valley forecast zone and Rio Arriba County — the most common reported hazard around Chamita, mostly in July and August. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (18 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (10 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 34 | Aug 2025 | Aug 15, 2006 · 1 death |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 18 | Jun 2024 | Aug 3, 2017 · $50,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 10 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 7 | Aug 2015 | Aug 1, 2015 · 1 death · $3,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 3 | Apr 2026 | Apr 24, 2026 · $500,000 damage |
| Flooding | 2 | May 2023 | May 2, 2023 · $300,000 damage |
| High winds | 1 | Apr 2022 | Apr 22, 2022 · $25,000 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 Espanola Valley forecast zone and Rio Arriba County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Chamita get?
A normal year brings about 11 inches of snow to Chamita, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Alcalde weather station 2.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (3.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6 | 1.4 | 3.3 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 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 Chamita?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 76 miles south-southwest. 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 Chamita | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 76 mi south-southwest | 6,300 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFDX Cannon AFB, NM | 171 mi southeast | 22,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 196 mi north-northeast | 28,200 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 Chamita
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 2 tornadoes within 25 miles of Chamita. The strongest was an F1 on December 26, 1966, which touched down about 15 miles south-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 21, 2018, which passed about 25 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 39 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 1 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on July 10, 1961.
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 Chamita'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.
Chamita radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Chamita, NM?
KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 76 miles south-southwest. KFDX (Cannon AFB, NM) is 171 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Chamita?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Chamita the lowest scan from KABX is about 6,300 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Chamita 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 Chamita, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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