Española, NM Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Española, Rio Arriba County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Española?
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 Española, 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 Española get?
A normal year brings about 11 inches of snow to Española, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Alcalde weather station 6 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 Española?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 73 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 Española | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 73 mi southwest | 6,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFDX Cannon AFB, NM | 168 mi east-southeast | 21,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 199 mi north-northeast | 29,000 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 Española
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 6 tornadoes within 25 miles of Española. Most came in May and December. The strongest was an F1 on April 15, 1971, which touched down about 25 miles south-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 21, 2018, which passed about 21 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 53 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 Española'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.
Española radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Española, NM?
KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 73 miles southwest. KFDX (Cannon AFB, NM) is 168 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Española?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Española the lowest scan from KABX is about 6,000 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Española 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 Española, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
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