Rio Chiquito, NM Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Rio Chiquito, Santa Fe County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Rio Chiquito?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 77 days in the Espanola Valley forecast zone and Santa Fe County — the most common reported hazard around Rio Chiquito, mostly in July and August. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (42 days) and lightning casualties & damage (11 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 77 | Jun 2026 | Jul 14, 2008 · 1 death · $25,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 42 | Jun 2026 | Dec 15, 2021 · $2.0 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 11 | Jul 2021 | Aug 7, 2016 · 1 death |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 10 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 4 | Aug 2015 | Sep 13, 2013 · $50,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 2 | Apr 2026 | Apr 24, 2026 · $500,000 damage |
| High winds | 1 | Apr 2022 | Apr 22, 2022 · $25,000 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 Espanola Valley forecast zone and Santa Fe County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Rio Chiquito get?
A normal year brings about 11 inches of snow to Rio Chiquito, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Alcalde weather station 10.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (3.3 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6 | 1.4 | 3.3 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 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 Rio Chiquito?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 78 miles 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 Rio Chiquito | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 78 mi southwest | 6,600 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KFDX Cannon AFB, NM | 160 mi southeast | 20,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 195 mi north-northeast | 28,000 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 Rio Chiquito
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 4 tornadoes within 25 miles of Rio Chiquito. Most came in May and December. The strongest was an F1 on April 15, 1971, which touched down about 24 miles south of town. The most recent was an F0 on June 29, 1991, which touched down about 22 miles south of town.
Hail: 49 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 1 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on July 10, 1961.
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 Rio Chiquito'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.
Rio Chiquito radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Rio Chiquito, NM?
KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 78 miles southwest. KFDX (Cannon AFB, NM) is 160 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Rio Chiquito?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Rio Chiquito the lowest scan from KABX is about 6,600 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Rio Chiquito 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 Rio Chiquito, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- Santa Fe, NM radar 23 mi
- Pecos, NM radar 32 mi
- Taos, NM radar 33 mi
- Angel Fire, NM radar 45 mi
- Las Vegas, NM radar 47 mi
- Questa, NM radar 52 mi
- Bernalillo, NM radar 60 mi