Thunder Mountain, NM Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Thunder Mountain, Santa Fe County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Thunder Mountain?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 77 days in the Sandia/Manzano Mountains Including Edgewood forecast zone and Santa Fe County — the most common reported hazard around Thunder Mountain, mostly in July and August. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (42 days) and heavy snow & winter storms (37 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 77 | Jun 2026 | Jul 14, 2008 · 1 death · $25,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 42 | Jun 2026 | Dec 15, 2021 · $2.0 million damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 37 | Jan 2026 | Feb 1, 2022 · 2 deaths |
| High winds | 33 | Mar 2026 | Feb 22, 2023 · $1.0 million damage |
| Lightning casualties & damage | 11 | Jul 2021 | Aug 7, 2016 · 1 death |
| Flooding | 4 | Aug 2015 | Sep 13, 2013 · $50,000 damage |
| Wildfires | 2 | Jun 2022 | Jun 16, 2022 · $150,000 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 Sandia/Manzano Mountains Including Edgewood forecast zone and Santa Fe County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Thunder Mountain get?
A normal year brings about 29 inches of snow to Thunder Mountain, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Golden weather station 11.3 miles away. The snowiest month is usually December (8.1 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | 3.9 | 8.1 | 5.6 | 2.5 | 6.2 | 1.2 | 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 Thunder Mountain?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 34 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 Thunder Mountain | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 34 mi west | 2,200 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KHDX Holloman AFB, NM | 140 mi south | 16,300 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KFDX Cannon AFB, NM | 151 mi east-southeast | 18,400 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 Thunder Mountain
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 30 tornadoes within 25 miles of Thunder Mountain. Most came in May and July. The strongest was an F1 on June 8, 1989, which passed about 18 miles east of town. The most recent was a tornado of unknown strength on August 19, 2025, which touched down about 20 miles west-northwest of town.
Hail: 135 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 7 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 Thunder Mountain'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.
Thunder Mountain radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Thunder Mountain, NM?
KABX (Albuquerque, NM), about 34 miles west. KHDX (Holloman AFB, NM) is 140 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Thunder Mountain?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Thunder Mountain the lowest scan from KABX is about 2,200 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Thunder Mountain 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 Thunder Mountain, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Edgewood, NM radar 2 mi
- Moriarty, NM radar 12 mi
- Bernalillo, NM radar 24 mi
- Albuquerque, NM radar 24 mi
- Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM radar 24 mi
- Corrales, NM radar 25 mi
- Estancia, NM radar 26 mi
- Rio Rancho, NM radar 30 mi
- Bosque Farms, NM radar 32 mi
- Peralta, NM radar 32 mi