Hillsboro, NM Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Hillsboro, Sierra County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Hillsboro?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 54 days in the Eastern Black Range Foothills forecast zone and Sierra County — the most common reported hazard around Hillsboro, mostly in August and July. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (23 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (3 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 54 | Sep 2025 | Sep 13, 2013 · 1 death · $500,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 23 | Jun 2026 | Aug 17, 2015 · $1.1 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 3 | Feb 2021 | — |
| High winds | 2 | Dec 2021 | — |
| Flooding | 2 | Sep 2006 | — |
| Excessive heat | 1 | Jul 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 Eastern Black Range Foothills forecast zone and Sierra County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Hillsboro get?
A normal year brings about 2.7 inches of snow to Hillsboro, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Hillsboro weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually January (1.2 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 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 Hillsboro?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KHDX (Holloman AFB, NM), about 85 miles east. 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 Hillsboro | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KHDX Holloman AFB, NM | 85 mi east | 7,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KEPZ El Paso, TX | 89 mi southeast | 8,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 160 mi north-northeast | 20,200 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 Hillsboro
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 4 tornadoes within 25 miles of Hillsboro. Most came in May and September. The strongest was an F1 on September 16, 1971, which touched down about 4 miles west of town. The most recent was an F0 on July 22, 1987, which passed about 22 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 15 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 1 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.50-inch hail on May 20, 1991.
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 Hillsboro'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.
Hillsboro radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Hillsboro, NM?
KHDX (Holloman AFB, NM), about 85 miles east. KEPZ (El Paso, TX) is 89 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Hillsboro flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 54 days in the Eastern Black Range Foothills forecast zone and Sierra County; the deadliest was on September 13, 2013, with 1 death. TALON's free flash-flood risk layer shows, every 2 minutes, how close the rain that has fallen is to what it takes to flood — turn it on under Layers.
Is TALON's radar for Hillsboro 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 Hillsboro, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Elephant Butte, NM radar 27 mi
- Truth or Consequences, NM radar 28 mi
- Hatch, NM radar 30 mi
- Bayard, NM radar 34 mi
- Santa Clara, NM radar 35 mi
- Hurley, NM radar 36 mi
- Silver City, NM radar 41 mi
- Deming, NM radar 47 mi
- Las Cruces, NM radar 62 mi