La Mesilla, NM Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for La Mesilla, Rio Arriba County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits La Mesilla?
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 La Mesilla, 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 La Mesilla get?
A normal year brings about 11 inches of snow to La Mesilla, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Alcalde weather station 10.3 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 La Mesilla?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 69 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 Mesilla | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 69 mi southwest | 5,600 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KFDX Cannon AFB, NM | 165 mi east-southeast | 21,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KHDX Holloman AFB, NM | 198 mi south | 28,700 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 Mesilla
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 7 tornadoes within 25 miles of La Mesilla. Most came in May and December. The strongest was an F1 on April 15, 1971, which touched down about 21 miles south-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 21, 2018, which passed about 18 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 65 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 La Mesilla'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 Mesilla radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to La Mesilla, NM?
KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 69 miles southwest. KFDX (Cannon AFB, NM) is 165 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in La Mesilla?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over La Mesilla the lowest scan from KABX is about 5,600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for La Mesilla 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 Mesilla, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Edgewood, NM radar 57 mi
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