Sandia Heights, NM Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Sandia Heights, Bernalillo County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Sandia Heights?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 72 days in the Middle Rio Grande Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area forecast zone and Bernalillo County — the most common reported hazard around Sandia Heights, mostly in June and July. Next come flash flooding (71 days) and high winds (39 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 72 | Jun 2026 | Jul 26, 2013 · $1.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 71 | Sep 2025 | Jul 20, 2021 · 3 deaths |
| High winds | 39 | Apr 2026 | Sep 8, 2020 · $250,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 11 | Nov 2024 | Feb 2, 2022 · 1 death |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 11 | Jul 2018 | Aug 14, 1996 · 1 death |
| Wildfires | 4 | Mar 2026 | Jun 21, 2025 · $4.0 million damage |
| Dust storms | 4 | Jun 2025 | Jun 19, 2024 · $100,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 1 | Feb 2021 | — |
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 Bernalillo County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Sandia Heights get?
A normal year brings about 24 inches of snow to Sandia Heights, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Albuquerque Foothills Ne weather station 3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (6.9 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6 | 2.4 | 6.9 | 4.0 | 4.4 | 3.7 | 1.7 | 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 Sandia Heights?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 19 miles west. 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 Sandia Heights | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 19 mi west | 1,100 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KHDX Holloman AFB, NM | 146 mi south | 17,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFDX Cannon AFB, NM | 167 mi east-southeast | 21,600 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 Sandia Heights
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 29 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sandia Heights. Most came in May and July. The strongest was an F1 on August 20, 1956, which touched down about 16 miles east of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on August 19, 2025, which touched down about 5 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 127 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 6 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.75-inch hail on June 9, 2025.
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 Sandia Heights'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.
Sandia Heights radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Sandia Heights, NM?
KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 19 miles west. KHDX (Holloman AFB, NM) is 146 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Sandia Heights?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Sandia Heights the lowest scan from KABX is about 1,100 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Sandia Heights 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 Sandia Heights, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM radar 9 mi
- Corrales, NM radar 9 mi
- Albuquerque, NM radar 10 mi
- Bernalillo, NM radar 10 mi
- Rio Rancho, NM radar 14 mi
- Edgewood, NM radar 15 mi
- Bosque Farms, NM radar 25 mi
- Peralta, NM radar 26 mi
- Moriarty, NM radar 28 mi
- Los Lunas, NM radar 31 mi