Playas, NM Live Doppler Radar

Live radar for Playas, Hidalgo County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.

Open live radar for Playas What TALON shows

What weather hits Playas?

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 27 days in the Lowlands of the Bootheel forecast zone and Hidalgo County — the most common reported hazard around Playas, mostly in July and August. Next come high winds (21 days) and flash flooding (8 days).

Hazard	Days reported	Most recent	Worst on record
Damaging thunderstorm winds	27	Jun 2026	Aug 9, 2017 · 1 death · $50,000 damage
High winds	21	Apr 2025	—
Flash flooding	8	Aug 2025	—
Excessive heat	1	Jul 2023	—
Extreme cold & wind chill	1	Jan 2025	—

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 Lowlands of the Bootheel forecast zone and Hidalgo County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.

How much snow does Playas get?

A normal year brings about 3.6 inches of snow to Playas, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Animas 3Ese weather station 13.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (1.7 in).

Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May
0.0	0.2	0.9	1.7	0.5	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 Playas?

The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KEPZ (El Paso, TX), about 108 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 Playas	View
KEPZ El Paso, TX	108 mi east	10,800 ft	Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KEMX Tucson, AZ	123 mi west	13,200 ft	Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms
KHDX Holloman AFB, NM	162 mi east-northeast	20,600 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 Playas

Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 3 tornadoes within 25 miles of Playas. Most came in October and June. The strongest was an F1 on June 15, 1961, which touched down about 17 miles west-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on October 7, 2015, which touched down about 17 miles north-northeast of town.

Hail: 9 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on September 28, 2017.

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 Playas'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.

Playas radar FAQ

Where is the nearest weather radar to Playas, NM?

KEPZ (El Paso, TX), about 108 miles east. KEMX (Tucson, AZ) is 123 miles away and also covers the area.

Can radar see a tornado near Playas?

Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Playas the lowest scan from KEPZ is about 10,800 ft up — limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms.

Is TALON's radar for Playas 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 Playas, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.

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