San Cristobal, NM Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for San Cristobal, Taos County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits San Cristobal?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 16 days in the Upper Rio Grande Valley forecast zone and Taos County — the most common reported hazard around San Cristobal, mostly in February and March. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (11 days) and flash flooding (11 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 16 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 11 | Jun 2026 | Dec 15, 2021 · $5.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 11 | Aug 2022 | Jul 21, 2021 · $500,000 damage |
| High winds | 8 | Apr 2025 | Sep 8, 2020 · $1,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 2 | Feb 2022 | Dec 28, 1997 · 1 death |
| Debris flows | 2 | Oct 2025 | Jul 31, 2025 · $50,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 1 | May 1996 | May 6, 1996 · $1.5 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 1 | Sep 1999 | — |
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 Upper Rio Grande Valley forecast zone and Taos County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does San Cristobal get?
A normal year brings about 61 inches of snow to San Cristobal, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Cerro weather station 9.2 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (13.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.4 | 6.8 | 13.9 | 12.7 | 11.7 | 8.0 | 4.3 | 0.7 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover San Cristobal?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 121 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 San Cristobal | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 121 mi southwest | 12,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 151 mi north-northeast | 18,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFDX Cannon AFB, NM | 177 mi southeast | 23,900 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 San Cristobal
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 3 tornadoes within 25 miles of San Cristobal. Most came in July and August. The strongest was an EF0 on August 9, 2018, which touched down about 20 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on September 1, 2018, which touched down about 21 miles north of town.
Hail: 6 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on August 9, 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 San Cristobal'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.
San Cristobal radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to San Cristobal, NM?
KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 121 miles southwest. KPUX (Pueblo, CO) is 151 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in San Cristobal?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over San Cristobal the lowest scan from KABX is about 12,900 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for San Cristobal 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 San Cristobal, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Questa, NM radar 7 mi
- Taos, NM radar 16 mi
- Angel Fire, NM radar 26 mi
- Española, NM radar 48 mi