Portales, NM Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Portales, Roosevelt County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Portales?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 68 days in the Roosevelt County forecast zone and Roosevelt County — the most common reported hazard around Portales, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (36 days) and high winds (19 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 68 | Jun 2026 | May 5, 2008 · $3.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 36 | Aug 2025 | Aug 3, 2017 · $2.4 million damage |
| High winds | 19 | Apr 2026 | Mar 14, 2025 · $60,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 8 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 3 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Dust storms | 2 | Mar 2025 | — |
| Wildfires | 2 | May 2026 | Mar 3, 2025 · $100,000 damage |
| Flooding | 2 | Jul 2017 | — |
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 Roosevelt County forecast zone and Roosevelt County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Portales get?
A normal year brings about 7.6 inches of snow to Portales, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Portales weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually December (2.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 0.5 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 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 Portales?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFDX (Cannon AFB, NM), about 35 miles north-northwest. 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 Portales | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFDX Cannon AFB, NM | 35 mi north-northwest | 2,200 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KLBB Lubbock, TX | 95 mi east-southeast | 9,000 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KAMA Amarillo, TX | 119 mi northeast | 12,500 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 Portales
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 92 tornadoes within 25 miles of Portales, 11 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F3 on May 21, 1963, which passed about 19 miles east-northeast of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on June 5, 2025, which touched down about 11 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 366 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 51 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.50-inch hail on June 12, 2012.
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 Portales'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.
Portales radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Portales, NM?
KFDX (Cannon AFB, NM), about 35 miles north-northwest. KLBB (Lubbock, TX) is 95 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Portales?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Portales the lowest scan from KFDX is about 2,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Portales 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 Portales, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Clovis, NM radar 20 mi