Placitas, NM Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Placitas, Sandoval County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Placitas?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 69 days in the Middle Rio Grande Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area forecast zone and Sandoval County — the most common reported hazard around Placitas, mostly in July and August. Next come high winds (39 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (20 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 69 | Sep 2025 | Jul 3, 2025 · 1 death |
| High winds | 39 | Apr 2026 | Sep 8, 2020 · $250,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 20 | Jun 2026 | Dec 1, 2007 · $100,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 10 | Nov 2024 | Feb 2, 2022 · 1 death |
| Wildfires | 5 | Mar 2026 | Jun 21, 2025 · $4.0 million damage |
| Dust storms | 4 | Jun 2025 | Jun 19, 2024 · $100,000 damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 4 | Aug 2019 | Jul 4, 2009 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 3 | Apr 2023 | Apr 12, 2023 · $1.0 million 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 Middle Rio Grande Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area forecast zone and Sandoval County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Placitas get?
A normal year brings about 11 inches of snow to Placitas, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Placitas 4W weather station 2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (2.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 2.7 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 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 Placitas?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 25 miles west-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 Placitas | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 25 mi west-southwest | 1,400 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KHDX Holloman AFB, NM | 156 mi south | 19,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFDX Cannon AFB, NM | 167 mi east-southeast | 21,600 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 Placitas
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 28 tornadoes within 25 miles of Placitas. Most came in July and May. The strongest was an F1 on August 20, 1956, which touched down about 17 miles southeast of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on August 19, 2025, which touched down about 8 miles southwest of town.
Hail: 117 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 4 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on July 12, 2025.
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 Placitas'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.
Placitas radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Placitas, NM?
KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 25 miles west-southwest. KHDX (Holloman AFB, NM) is 156 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Placitas?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Placitas the lowest scan from KABX is about 1,400 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Placitas 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 Placitas, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Bernalillo, NM radar 6 mi
- Corrales, NM radar 12 mi
- Rio Rancho, NM radar 15 mi
- Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM radar 16 mi
- Edgewood, NM radar 18 mi
- Albuquerque, NM radar 19 mi
- Moriarty, NM radar 32 mi
- Santa Fe, NM radar 35 mi
- Bosque Farms, NM radar 36 mi
- Peralta, NM radar 37 mi