Los Chaves, NM Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Los Chaves, Valencia County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Los Chaves?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged high winds on 39 days in the Middle Rio Grande Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area forecast zone and Valencia County — the most common reported hazard around Los Chaves, mostly in April and March. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (25 days) and flash flooding (16 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| High winds | 39 | Apr 2026 | Sep 8, 2020 · $250,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 25 | Aug 2025 | May 24, 1999 · $1.2 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 16 | Jul 2025 | Sep 29, 2017 · $7.5 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 10 | Nov 2024 | Feb 2, 2022 · 1 death |
| Wildfires | 4 | Mar 2026 | Jun 21, 2025 · $4.0 million damage |
| Dust storms | 4 | Jun 2025 | Jun 19, 2024 · $100,000 damage |
| Flooding | 4 | Sep 2013 | Sep 13, 2013 · $200,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 1 | Feb 2021 | — |
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 Middle Rio Grande Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area forecast zone and Valencia County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Los Chaves get?
A normal year brings about 5.1 inches of snow to Los Chaves, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Los Lunas 3 Ssw weather station 2.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (1.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 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 Los Chaves?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 29 miles north. 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 Los Chaves | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 29 mi north | 1,800 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KHDX Holloman AFB, NM | 120 mi south-southeast | 12,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFDX Cannon AFB, NM | 179 mi east | 24,200 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 Los Chaves
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 15 tornadoes within 25 miles of Los Chaves, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in July and August. The strongest was an F2 on May 27, 1975, which touched down about 5 miles south-southwest of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on July 30, 2025, which touched down about 21 miles north of town.
Hail: 43 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 3 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on September 30, 1998.
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 Los Chaves'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.
Los Chaves radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Los Chaves, NM?
KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 29 miles north. KHDX (Holloman AFB, NM) is 120 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Los Chaves?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Los Chaves the lowest scan from KABX is about 1,800 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Los Chaves 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 Los Chaves, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Belen, NM radar 4 mi
- Los Lunas, NM radar 5 mi
- Rio Communities, NM radar 7 mi
- Peralta, NM radar 8 mi
- Bosque Farms, NM radar 9 mi
- Albuquerque, NM radar 26 mi
- Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM radar 30 mi
- Corrales, NM radar 36 mi
- Rio Rancho, NM radar 38 mi
- Estancia, NM radar 41 mi