Rivers, NM Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Rivers, Catron County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Rivers?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 28 days in the San Francisco River Valley forecast zone and Catron County — the most common reported hazard around Rivers, mostly in July and August. Next come flooding (6 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (3 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 28 | Sep 2021 | Sep 14, 2013 · 1 death · $1.5 million damage |
| Flooding | 6 | Sep 2013 | Sep 14, 2013 · $100,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 3 | Feb 2023 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 3 | Jun 2024 | Jun 29, 2024 · $75,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 1 | Apr 2002 | — |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | Aug 2009 | Aug 30, 2009 · 1 death · $1,000 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 San Francisco River Valley forecast zone and Catron County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Rivers get?
A normal year brings about 18 inches of snow to Rivers, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Luna Rs weather station 13.8 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (6.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 1.4 | 6.9 | 5.4 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 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 Rivers?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 151 miles northeast. 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 Rivers | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 151 mi northeast | 18,400 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFSX Flagstaff, AZ | 152 mi west-northwest | 18,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KHDX Holloman AFB, NM | 159 mi east-southeast | 20,000 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 Rivers
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 1 tornado within 25 miles of Rivers. The strongest was an F0 on August 30, 2006, which touched down about 24 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 4 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.00-inch hail on October 20, 2015.
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 Rivers'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.
Rivers radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Rivers, NM?
KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 151 miles northeast. KFSX (Flagstaff, AZ) is 152 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Rivers flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 28 days in the San Francisco River Valley forecast zone and Catron County; the deadliest was on September 14, 2013, with 1 death. TALON's free flash-flood risk layer shows, every 2 minutes, how close the rain that has fallen is to what it takes to flood — turn it on under Layers.
Is TALON's radar for Rivers 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 Rivers, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.