Rio Communities, NM Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Rio Communities, Valencia County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Rio Communities?
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 Rio Communities, 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 Rio Communities get?
A normal year brings about 5.1 inches of snow to Rio Communities, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Los Lunas 3 Ssw weather station 8.8 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 Rio Communities?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 35 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 Rio Communities | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 35 mi north | 2,300 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KHDX Holloman AFB, NM | 114 mi south-southeast | 11,700 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFDX Cannon AFB, NM | 176 mi east | 23,600 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 Rio Communities
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 11 tornadoes within 25 miles of Rio Communities, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and July. The strongest was an F2 on May 27, 1975, which touched down about 5 miles west-northwest of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 31, 2021, which touched down about 24 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 39 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 Rio Communities'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 Communities radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Rio Communities, NM?
KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 35 miles north. KHDX (Holloman AFB, NM) is 114 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Rio Communities?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Rio Communities the lowest scan from KABX is about 2,300 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Rio Communities 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 Communities, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Belen, NM radar 10 mi
- Los Lunas, NM radar 12 mi
- Peralta, NM radar 13 mi
- Bosque Farms, NM radar 14 mi
- Albuquerque, NM radar 32 mi
- Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM radar 36 mi
- Estancia, NM radar 39 mi
- Corrales, NM radar 41 mi
- Socorro, NM radar 42 mi
- Edgewood, NM radar 44 mi