La Cienega, NM Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for La Cienega, Santa Fe County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits La Cienega?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 77 days in the Santa Fe Metro Area forecast zone and Santa Fe County — the most common reported hazard around La Cienega, mostly in July and August. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (42 days) and high winds (22 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 |
| High winds | 22 | Apr 2026 | Feb 26, 2023 · $5,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 17 | Nov 2024 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 11 | Jul 2021 | Aug 7, 2016 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 4 | Aug 2015 | Sep 13, 2013 · $50,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 2 | Jan 2025 | — |
| Dust storms | 2 | Mar 2025 | Apr 22, 2022 · $100,000 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 Santa Fe Metro Area forecast zone and Santa Fe County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does La Cienega get?
A normal year brings about 20 inches of snow to La Cienega, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Santa Fe 2 weather station 8.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (6.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 | 1.7 | 6.8 | 3.7 | 2.4 | 3.9 | 0.4 | 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 La Cienega?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 50 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 La Cienega | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 50 mi southwest | 3,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KFDX Cannon AFB, NM | 155 mi east-southeast | 19,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KHDX Holloman AFB, NM | 173 mi south | 22,900 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 La Cienega
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 15 tornadoes within 25 miles of La Cienega. Most came in May and August. The strongest was an F1 on April 15, 1971, which touched down about 9 miles east-northeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on July 13, 2021, which touched down about 18 miles south of town.
Hail: 92 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 June 26, 2017.
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 La Cienega'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.
La Cienega radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to La Cienega, NM?
KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 50 miles southwest. KFDX (Cannon AFB, NM) is 155 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in La Cienega?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over La Cienega the lowest scan from KABX is about 3,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for La Cienega 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 La Cienega, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Santa Fe, NM radar 9 mi
- Pecos, NM radar 24 mi
- Española, NM radar 29 mi
- Bernalillo, NM radar 31 mi
- Edgewood, NM radar 32 mi
- Corrales, NM radar 37 mi
- Rio Rancho, NM radar 39 mi
- Moriarty, NM radar 40 mi
- Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM radar 42 mi
- Albuquerque, NM radar 45 mi