Rio Rancho, NM Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Rio Rancho, Sandoval County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Rio Rancho?
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 Rio Rancho, 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 Rio Rancho get?
A normal year brings about 9.3 inches of snow to Rio Rancho, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Rio Rancho #1 weather station 4.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (3.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6 | 0.7 | 3.8 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 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 Rancho?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 12 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 Rancho | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 12 mi southwest | 600 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KHDX Holloman AFB, NM | 156 mi south-southeast | 19,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFDX Cannon AFB, NM | 180 mi east-southeast | 24,500 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 Rio Rancho
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 22 tornadoes within 25 miles of Rio Rancho, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and August. The strongest was an F2 on October 10, 1974, which touched down about 24 miles west-southwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on August 19, 2025, which touched down about 9 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 82 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 5 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 Rio Rancho'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 Rancho radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Rio Rancho, NM?
KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 12 miles southwest. KHDX (Holloman AFB, NM) is 156 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Rio Rancho?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Rio Rancho the lowest scan from KABX is about 600 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Rio Rancho 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 Rancho, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Corrales, NM radar 5 mi
- Bernalillo, NM radar 8 mi
- Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM radar 9 mi
- Albuquerque, NM radar 13 mi
- Edgewood, NM radar 29 mi
- Bosque Farms, NM radar 30 mi
- Peralta, NM radar 32 mi
- Los Lunas, NM radar 34 mi
- Belen, NM radar 36 mi
- Moriarty, NM radar 42 mi