Sunshine, NM Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Sunshine, Luna County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Sunshine?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged damaging thunderstorm winds on 31 days in the Southwest Desert/Mimbres Basin forecast zone and Luna County — the most common reported hazard around Sunshine, mostly in July and June. Next come flash flooding (29 days) and dust storms (22 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 31 | Jun 2026 | Jul 18, 2008 · $70,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 29 | Jul 2025 | Jul 12, 2008 · $400,000 damage |
| Dust storms | 22 | Feb 2026 | Apr 17, 2025 · 1 death |
| High winds | 17 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 6 | Sep 2020 | Aug 29, 2006 · $50,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 3 | Feb 2020 | — |
| Excessive heat | 1 | Jul 2023 | — |
| 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 Southwest Desert/Mimbres Basin forecast zone and Luna County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Sunshine get?
A normal year brings about 1.0 inches of snow to Sunshine, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Deming weather station 8.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (0.5 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 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 Sunshine?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KEPZ (El Paso, TX), about 66 miles east-southeast. 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 Sunshine | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KEPZ El Paso, TX | 66 mi east-southeast | 5,200 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KHDX Holloman AFB, NM | 117 mi northeast | 12,200 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KEMX Tucson, AZ | 168 mi west | 21,800 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 Sunshine
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 4 tornadoes within 25 miles of Sunshine. Most came in October and August. The strongest was an F1 on October 9, 2006, which touched down about 12 miles northeast of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on October 8, 2019, which touched down about 14 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 18 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955; the largest was 1.75-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 Sunshine'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.
Sunshine radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Sunshine, NM?
KEPZ (El Paso, TX), about 66 miles east-southeast. KHDX (Holloman AFB, NM) is 117 miles away and also covers the area.
Can radar see a tornado near Sunshine?
Radar can't see the tornado itself, but it shows the rotating storm and, once debris is lofted, a debris signature. Over Sunshine the lowest scan from KEPZ is about 5,200 ft up — good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly.
Is TALON's radar for Sunshine 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 Sunshine, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Deming, NM radar 9 mi
- Columbus, NM radar 23 mi
- Hurley, NM radar 44 mi
- Bayard, NM radar 48 mi
- Santa Clara, NM radar 49 mi
- Hatch, NM radar 52 mi
- Silver City, NM radar 53 mi
- Lordsburg, NM radar 56 mi
- Mesilla, NM radar 58 mi
- Las Cruces, NM radar 60 mi