Lake Sumner, NM Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Lake Sumner, De Baca County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Lake Sumner?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 53 days in the De Baca County forecast zone and De Baca County — the most common reported hazard around Lake Sumner, mostly in June and July. Next come high winds (24 days) and flash flooding (14 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 53 | Jun 2026 | Jul 20, 2015 · $250,000 damage |
| High winds | 24 | May 2026 | Dec 10, 2021 · $5,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 14 | Apr 2025 | May 22, 2015 · $50,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 5 | Jan 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 2 | Jun 2021 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 1 | Jan 2026 | — |
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 De Baca County forecast zone and De Baca County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Lake Sumner get?
A normal year brings about 9.5 inches of snow to Lake Sumner, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Sumner Lake weather station 1.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (3.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 0.7 | 3.4 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 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 Lake Sumner?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFDX (Cannon AFB, NM), about 45 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 Lake Sumner | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFDX Cannon AFB, NM | 45 mi east | 3,000 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 142 mi west-northwest | 16,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KHDX Holloman AFB, NM | 145 mi southwest | 17,300 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 Lake Sumner
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 12 tornadoes within 25 miles of Lake Sumner. Most came in August and June. The strongest was an F1 on June 1, 1989, which passed about 16 miles south-southwest of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on April 26, 2025, which touched down about 24 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 73 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 7 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.50-inch hail on October 21, 2015.
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 Lake Sumner'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.
Lake Sumner radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Lake Sumner, NM?
KFDX (Cannon AFB, NM), about 45 miles east. KABX (Albuquerque, NM) is 142 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Lake Sumner?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Lake Sumner the lowest scan from KFDX is about 3,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Lake Sumner 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 Lake Sumner, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Santa Rosa, NM radar 27 mi
- Tucumcari, NM radar 55 mi