Rio Rancho Estates, NM Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Rio Rancho Estates, Sandoval County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Rio Rancho Estates?
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 Estates, 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 Estates get?
A normal year brings about 9.3 inches of snow to Rio Rancho Estates, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Rio Rancho #1 weather station 10.2 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 Estates?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 10 miles south. 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 Estates | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 10 mi south | 500 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KHDX Holloman AFB, NM | 158 mi south-southeast | 19,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFDX Cannon AFB, NM | 186 mi east-southeast | 25,800 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 Estates
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 21 tornadoes within 25 miles of Rio Rancho Estates, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in May and July. The strongest was an F2 on October 10, 1974, which touched down about 20 miles southwest of town and caused 1 death. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on August 19, 2025, which touched down about 15 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 59 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 2 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.00-inch hail on June 15, 1969.
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 Estates'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 Estates radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Rio Rancho Estates, NM?
KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 10 miles south. KHDX (Holloman AFB, NM) is 158 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Rio Rancho Estates?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Rio Rancho Estates the lowest scan from KABX is about 500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Rio Rancho Estates 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 Estates, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Rio Rancho, NM radar 6 mi
- Corrales, NM radar 11 mi
- Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM radar 13 mi
- Bernalillo, NM radar 14 mi
- Albuquerque, NM radar 16 mi
- Bosque Farms, NM radar 31 mi
- Peralta, NM radar 33 mi
- Los Lunas, NM radar 35 mi
- Edgewood, NM radar 35 mi
- Belen, NM radar 37 mi