Taos Ski Valley, NM Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Taos Ski Valley, Taos County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Taos Ski Valley?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 41 days in the Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains forecast zone and Taos County — the most common reported hazard around Taos Ski Valley, mostly in February and March. Next come high winds (29 days) and damaging thunderstorm winds (11 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 41 | Jan 2026 | — |
| High winds | 29 | Mar 2026 | Dec 15, 2021 · $2.5 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 11 | Jun 2026 | Dec 15, 2021 · $5.0 million damage |
| Flash flooding | 11 | Aug 2022 | Jul 21, 2021 · $500,000 damage |
| Avalanches | 2 | Feb 2023 | Feb 22, 2023 · $2,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 2 | Jan 2025 | 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 |
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 Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains forecast zone and Taos County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Taos Ski Valley get?
A normal year brings about 157 inches of snow to Taos Ski Valley, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Red River weather station 8.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually March (31.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.7 | 19.0 | 18.5 | 19.1 | 26.1 | 31.4 | 26.7 | 6.2 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Taos Ski Valley?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 126 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 Taos Ski Valley | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 126 mi southwest | 13,800 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KPUX Pueblo, CO | 146 mi north-northeast | 17,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFDX Cannon AFB, NM | 169 mi southeast | 22,200 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 Taos Ski Valley
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 2 tornadoes within 25 miles of Taos Ski Valley. The strongest was an EF0 on August 9, 2018, which touched down about 9 miles east-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on September 1, 2018, which touched down about 25 miles north-northwest of town.
Hail: 7 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 Taos Ski Valley'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.
Taos Ski Valley radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Taos Ski Valley, NM?
KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 126 miles southwest. KPUX (Pueblo, CO) is 146 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Taos Ski Valley?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Taos Ski Valley the lowest scan from KABX is about 13,800 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Taos Ski Valley 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 Taos Ski Valley, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Questa, NM radar 12 mi
- Taos, NM radar 16 mi
- Angel Fire, NM radar 18 mi
- Española, NM radar 54 mi
- Raton, NM radar 59 mi