Tortugas, NM Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Tortugas, Dona Ana County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Tortugas?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 76 days in the Southern Dona Ana County/Mesilla Valley forecast zone and Dona Ana County — the most common reported hazard around Tortugas, mostly in July and August. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (69 days) and high winds (38 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 76 | Jun 2026 | Aug 15, 2006 · $4.5 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 69 | Jun 2026 | Aug 23, 2020 · $100,000 damage |
| High winds | 38 | Apr 2026 | Feb 16, 2022 · $50,000 damage |
| Dust storms | 8 | Apr 2025 | — |
| Flooding | 7 | Jan 2017 | Sep 4, 2006 · $50,000 damage |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 4 | Feb 2021 | — |
| Avalanches | 1 | Sep 2020 | — |
| Excessive heat | 1 | Jul 2023 | — |
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 Southern Dona Ana County/Mesilla Valley forecast zone and Dona Ana County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Tortugas get?
A normal year brings about 1.0 inches of snow to Tortugas, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the State Univ weather station in town. The snowiest month is usually January (0.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 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 Tortugas?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KEPZ (El Paso, TX), about 28 miles south. 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 Tortugas | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KEPZ El Paso, TX | 28 mi south | 1,700 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KHDX Holloman AFB, NM | 67 mi north-northeast | 5,300 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 199 mi north | 29,000 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 Tortugas
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 8 tornadoes within 25 miles of Tortugas. Most came in September and July. The strongest was an F1 on July 31, 1979, which touched down about 21 miles south-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on May 2, 2007, which passed about 20 miles east-southeast of town.
Hail: 66 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 4 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 2.25-inch hail on June 15, 1969.
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 Tortugas'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.
Tortugas radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Tortugas, NM?
KEPZ (El Paso, TX), about 28 miles south. KHDX (Holloman AFB, NM) is 67 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Tortugas flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 76 days in the Southern Dona Ana County/Mesilla Valley forecast zone and Dona Ana County. TALON's free flash-flood risk layer shows, every 2 minutes, how close the rain that has fallen is to what it takes to flood — turn it on under Layers.
Is TALON's radar for Tortugas 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 Tortugas, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Mesilla, NM radar 3 mi
- Las Cruces, NM radar 4 mi
- Anthony, NM radar 20 mi
- Sunland Park, NM radar 32 mi
- Hatch, NM radar 37 mi
- Deming, NM radar 58 mi
- Columbus, NM radar 60 mi