Tularosa, NM Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Tularosa, Otero County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Tularosa?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 66 days in the East Central Tularosa Basin/Alamogordo forecast zone and Otero County — the most common reported hazard around Tularosa, mostly in July and August. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (59 days) and high winds (6 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash flooding | 66 | Jul 2025 | Jun 22, 2006 · $1.3 million damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 59 | Jun 2026 | May 28, 2008 · $370,000 damage |
| High winds | 6 | Apr 2026 | — |
| Dust storms | 2 | Jul 2025 | — |
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 1 | Jan 2026 | — |
| Flooding | 1 | Jul 2009 | Jul 5, 2009 · $25,000 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 East Central Tularosa Basin/Alamogordo forecast zone and Otero County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Tularosa get?
A normal year brings about 2.4 inches of snow to Tularosa, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Alamogordo weather station 11.4 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (1.0 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 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 Tularosa?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KHDX (Holloman AFB, NM), about 6 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 Tularosa | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KHDX Holloman AFB, NM | 6 mi west | 300 ft | Excellent — the lowest scan sees close to the ground |
| KEPZ El Paso, TX | 92 mi south-southwest | 8,500 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
| KABX Albuquerque, NM | 151 mi north-northwest | 18,300 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 Tularosa
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 12 tornadoes within 25 miles of Tularosa, 1 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F2 on May 27, 1982, which touched down about 12 miles south-southeast of town. The most recent was an EF0 on March 13, 2020, which touched down about 17 miles south-southeast of town.
Hail: 55 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 5 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 3.00-inch hail on May 24, 1999.
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 Tularosa'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.
Tularosa radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Tularosa, NM?
KHDX (Holloman AFB, NM), about 6 miles west. KEPZ (El Paso, TX) is 92 miles away and also covers the area.
How often does Tularosa flood?
Since 1996 the National Weather Service has logged flash flooding on 66 days in the East Central Tularosa Basin/Alamogordo forecast zone and Otero 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 Tularosa 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 Tularosa, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- Alamogordo, NM radar 14 mi
- Ruidoso, NM radar 28 mi
- Ruidoso Downs, NM radar 30 mi
- Capitan, NM radar 40 mi