Ruidoso, NM Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Ruidoso, Lincoln County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Ruidoso?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 101 days in the South Central Mountains forecast zone and Lincoln County — the most common reported hazard around Ruidoso, mostly in July and August. Next come high winds (69 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (29 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 101 | Jun 2026 | May 30, 2021 · 1 death · $60,000 damage |
| High winds | 69 | May 2026 | Oct 12, 2021 · $50,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 29 | Sep 2025 | Dec 23, 2023 · $10,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 14 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Wildfires | 10 | May 2026 | Jun 17, 2024 · 2 deaths · $23 million damage |
| Debris flows | 10 | Sep 2025 | Jul 8, 2025 · 3 deaths · $50 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 3 | May 2015 | May 15, 2015 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 3 | Jun 2021 | Jul 26, 2008 · 1 death · $25 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 South Central Mountains forecast zone and Lincoln County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Ruidoso get?
A normal year brings about 26 inches of snow to Ruidoso, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Ruidoso weather station 1.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (7.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 1.8 | 7.2 | 7.9 | 5.5 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 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 Ruidoso?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KHDX (Holloman AFB, NM), about 32 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 Ruidoso | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KHDX Holloman AFB, NM | 32 mi southwest | 2,000 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KEPZ El Paso, TX | 118 mi south-southwest | 12,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 141 mi north-northwest | 16,400 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 Ruidoso
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 10 tornadoes within 25 miles of Ruidoso. Most came in May and June. The strongest was an F1 on June 17, 1972, which passed about 5 miles north of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on July 9, 2024, which touched down about 2 miles west of town.
Hail: 44 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 3 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.50-inch hail on May 22, 2018.
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 Ruidoso'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.
Ruidoso radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Ruidoso, NM?
KHDX (Holloman AFB, NM), about 32 miles southwest. KEPZ (El Paso, TX) is 118 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Ruidoso?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Ruidoso the lowest scan from KHDX is about 2,000 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Ruidoso 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 Ruidoso, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Ruidoso Downs, NM radar 4 mi
- Capitan, NM radar 14 mi
- Tularosa, NM radar 28 mi
- Alamogordo, NM radar 36 mi