Clayton, NM Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Clayton, Union County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Clayton?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 75 days in the Union County forecast zone and Union County — the most common reported hazard around Clayton, mostly in August and July. Next come high winds (61 days) and flash flooding (27 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 75 | May 2026 | Aug 12, 2023 · $50,000 damage |
| High winds | 61 | Mar 2026 | Dec 15, 2021 · $100,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 27 | Jun 2025 | Aug 8, 2019 · $50,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 13 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Blizzards | 4 | Nov 2024 | Nov 7, 2024 · $4.0 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 4 | Jan 2025 | — |
| Dust storms | 1 | Dec 2022 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 1 | Feb 2023 | — |
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 Union County forecast zone and Union County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Clayton get?
A normal year brings about 22 inches of snow to Clayton, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Clayton Muni Air Pk weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually December (6.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 | 2.7 | 6.8 | 3.7 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 1.3 | 0.5 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Clayton?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KAMA (Amarillo, TX), about 116 miles southeast. 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 Clayton | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAMA Amarillo, TX | 116 mi southeast | 12,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFDX Cannon AFB, NM | 128 mi south-southwest | 14,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 150 mi north-northwest | 18,200 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 Clayton
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 51 tornadoes within 25 miles of Clayton, 4 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F2 on June 5, 1961, which passed about 19 miles north-northeast of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 8, 2025, which passed about 16 miles east of town.
Hail: 205 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 19 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on May 26, 2019.
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 Clayton'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.
Clayton radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Clayton, NM?
KAMA (Amarillo, TX), about 116 miles southeast. KFDX (Cannon AFB, NM) is 128 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Clayton?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Clayton the lowest scan from KAMA is about 12,100 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Clayton 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 Clayton, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.