La Plata, NM Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for La Plata, San Juan County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits La Plata?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 43 days in the Northwest Plateau forecast zone and San Juan County — the most common reported hazard around La Plata, mostly in July and August. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (26 days) and high winds (14 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 43 | Oct 2025 | Aug 5, 2016 · 1 death · $50,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 26 | Jun 2026 | Aug 21, 2024 · $3.0 million damage |
| High winds | 14 | Feb 2026 | Apr 19, 2023 · $10,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 5 | Aug 2009 | Aug 2, 2003 · 1 death |
| Dust storms | 3 | Jul 2022 | — |
| Wildfires | 2 | May 2021 | May 16, 2021 · $300,000 damage |
| Excessive heat | 2 | Jul 2021 | Nov 11, 1998 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 2 | Nov 2024 | — |
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 Northwest Plateau forecast zone and San Juan County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does La Plata get?
A normal year brings about 11 inches of snow to La Plata, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Aztec Ruins Nm weather station 11.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (4.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 0.9 | 2.2 | 4.5 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 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 Plata?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 143 miles south-southeast. 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 Plata | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 143 mi south-southeast | 16,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KGJX Grand Junction, CO | 150 mi north | 18,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFSX Flagstaff, AZ | 232 mi southwest | 37,700 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 Plata
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 11 tornadoes within 25 miles of La Plata, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and October. The strongest was an F2 on May 10, 1957, which touched down about 15 miles south of town. The most recent was an EF0 on March 21, 2020, which touched down about 19 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 18 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 3 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on September 22, 2013.
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 Plata'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 Plata radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to La Plata, NM?
KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 143 miles south-southeast. KGJX (Grand Junction, CO) is 150 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does La Plata flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 43 days in the Northwest Plateau forecast zone and San Juan County; the deadliest was on August 5, 2016, 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 La Plata 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 Plata, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Farmington, NM radar 10 mi
- Aztec, NM radar 14 mi
- Bloomfield, NM radar 16 mi