Des Moines, NM Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Des Moines, Union County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Des Moines?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 75 days in the Johnson and Bartlett Mesas Including Raton Pass forecast zone and Union County — the most common reported hazard around Des Moines, mostly in August and July. Next come flash flooding (27 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (18 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 75 | May 2026 | Aug 12, 2023 · $50,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 27 | Jun 2025 | Aug 8, 2019 · $50,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 18 | Jan 2026 | Nov 24, 2022 · $25,000 damage |
| High winds | 17 | Apr 2025 | Mar 19, 2020 · $2,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 2 | Nov 2024 | — |
| Ice storms & sleet | 1 | Feb 2023 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 1 | Jan 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 1 | Jul 2017 | — |
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 Johnson and Bartlett Mesas Including Raton Pass forecast zone and Union County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Des Moines get?
A normal year brings about 41 inches of snow to Des Moines, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Capulin weather station 9 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (9.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 | 4.6 | 9.1 | 6.4 | 5.4 | 7.7 | 4.6 | 0.7 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Des Moines?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KPUX (Pueblo, CO), about 119 miles north. 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 Des Moines | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 119 mi north | 12,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFDX Cannon AFB, NM | 148 mi south | 17,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KAMA Amarillo, TX | 159 mi southeast | 20,000 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 Des Moines
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 17 tornadoes within 25 miles of Des Moines. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F1 on June 5, 1961, which passed about 21 miles east-northeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on July 4, 2020, which touched down about 12 miles south of town.
Hail: 103 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 4 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.50-inch hail on August 18, 2015.
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 Des Moines'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.
Des Moines radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Des Moines, NM?
KPUX (Pueblo, CO), about 119 miles north. KFDX (Cannon AFB, NM) is 148 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Des Moines?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Des Moines the lowest scan from KPUX is about 12,500 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Des Moines 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 Des Moines, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Raton, NM radar 35 mi
- Clayton, NM radar 44 mi