Costilla, NM Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Costilla, Taos County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Costilla?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 16 days in the Upper Rio Grande Valley forecast zone and Taos County — the most common reported hazard around Costilla, mostly in February and March. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (11 days) and flash flooding (11 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 16 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 11 | Jun 2026 | Dec 15, 2021 · $5.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 11 | Aug 2022 | Jul 21, 2021 · $500,000 damage |
| High winds | 8 | Apr 2025 | Sep 8, 2020 · $1,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 2 | Feb 2022 | Dec 28, 1997 · 1 death |
| Debris flows | 2 | Oct 2025 | Jul 31, 2025 · $50,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 1 | May 1996 | May 6, 1996 · $1.5 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | Sep 1999 | — |
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 Rio Grande Valley forecast zone and Taos County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
Which radars cover Costilla?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPUX (Pueblo, CO), about 126 miles northeast. 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 Costilla | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 126 mi northeast | 13,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 145 mi south-southwest | 17,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFDX Cannon AFB, NM | 194 mi southeast | 27,800 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 Costilla
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 4 tornadoes within 25 miles of Costilla. Most came in May and July. The strongest was an F1 on May 5, 1980, which touched down about 17 miles north-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on September 1, 2018, which touched down about 7 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 1 report of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.00-inch hail on August 2, 2018.
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 Costilla'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.
Costilla radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Costilla, NM?
KPUX (Pueblo, CO), about 126 miles northeast. KABX (Albuquerque, NM) is 145 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Costilla?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Costilla the lowest scan from KPUX is about 13,800 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Costilla 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 Costilla, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Questa, NM radar 19 mi
- Taos, NM radar 41 mi
- Angel Fire, NM radar 44 mi
- Raton, NM radar 61 mi