San Rafael, NM Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for San Rafael, Cibola County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits San Rafael?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 28 days in the West Central Highlands forecast zone and Cibola County — the most common reported hazard around San Rafael, mostly in August and July. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (10 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (7 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 28 | Sep 2025 | Jul 4, 2015 · $250,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 10 | May 2026 | Oct 2, 2003 · $2,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 7 | Apr 2025 | — |
| High winds | 7 | Apr 2025 | — |
| Wildfires | 4 | Aug 2025 | Apr 27, 2025 · $500,000 damage |
| Flooding | 2 | Sep 2013 | Sep 13, 2013 · $500,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 1 | Jan 2025 | — |
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 West Central Highlands forecast zone and Cibola County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does San Rafael get?
A normal year brings about 7.9 inches of snow to San Rafael, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Grants Ap weather station 4.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (2.8 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 0.6 | 2.8 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 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 San Rafael?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 61 miles east. 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 Rafael | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 61 mi east | 4,700 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KHDX Holloman AFB, NM | 173 mi southeast | 22,900 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFSX Flagstaff, AZ | 190 mi west | 26,900 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 Rafael
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 1 tornado within 25 miles of San Rafael. The strongest was an EF0 on June 3, 2018, which touched down about 19 miles southeast of town.
Hail: 18 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-inch hail on June 3, 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 Rafael'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 Rafael radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to San Rafael, NM?
KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 61 miles east. KHDX (Holloman AFB, NM) is 173 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in San Rafael?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over San Rafael the lowest scan from KABX is about 4,700 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for San Rafael 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 Rafael, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Grants, NM radar 6 mi
- Milan, NM radar 7 mi
- Gallup, NM radar 55 mi