El Rancho, NM Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for El Rancho, Santa Fe County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits El Rancho?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 77 days in the Espanola Valley forecast zone and Santa Fe County — the most common reported hazard around El Rancho, mostly in July and August. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (42 days) and lightning casualties & damage (11 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 77 | Jun 2026 | Jul 14, 2008 · 1 death · $25,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 42 | Jun 2026 | Dec 15, 2021 · $2.0 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 11 | Jul 2021 | Aug 7, 2016 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 10 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 4 | Aug 2015 | Sep 13, 2013 · $50,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 2 | Apr 2026 | Apr 24, 2026 · $500,000 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 Santa Fe County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does El Rancho get?
A normal year brings about 42 inches of snow to El Rancho, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Los Alamos weather station 13.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (9.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.7 | 4.4 | 8.0 | 9.9 | 8.8 | 5.9 | 3.3 | 0.1 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover El Rancho?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 66 miles 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 El Rancho | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 66 mi southwest | 5,200 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KFDX Cannon AFB, NM | 164 mi east-southeast | 21,000 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KHDX Holloman AFB, NM | 195 mi south | 27,900 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 El Rancho
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 7 tornadoes within 25 miles of El Rancho. Most came in May and December. The strongest was an F1 on April 15, 1971, which touched down about 18 miles south-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 21, 2018, which passed about 15 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 71 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 El Rancho'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.
El Rancho radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to El Rancho, NM?
KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 66 miles southwest. KFDX (Cannon AFB, NM) is 164 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in El Rancho?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over El Rancho the lowest scan from KABX is about 5,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for El Rancho 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 El Rancho, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Española, NM radar 8 mi
- Santa Fe, NM radar 17 mi
- Pecos, NM radar 32 mi
- Taos, NM radar 44 mi
- Bernalillo, NM radar 48 mi
- Las Vegas, NM radar 53 mi
- Edgewood, NM radar 53 mi
- Rio Rancho, NM radar 54 mi
- Corrales, NM radar 54 mi
- Angel Fire, NM radar 57 mi