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West Central Highlands County, New Mexico
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 2009 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
0
Tornado reports
0
Hail reports
0
Floods since 1996
135
All events
2
Deaths
$1.3M
Property damage
Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
Around Tohajiillee, 6 to 7 inches of snow was reported. Just west of Grants, a man driving too fast for the wintry conditions on Interstate 40, loss control and veered off the highway. The 65-year old man died when the vehicle struck lava rocks and overturned.
Though snow amounts were generally 2 inches or less, it was enough to create slick roads. Luis Segovia-Cabrera, age 39, sustained massive head injuries after he lost control of his SUV and crossed the median on Interstate 40 near exit 96 and crashed into a commercial tractor-trai…
Drought Drought
Extreme drought expanded to nearly all of the zone.
Drought Drought
Extreme drought expanded to two-thirds of the zone.
Drought Drought
Extreme drought was introduced to the southern third of the zone.
Wildfire Wildfire
The Vereda Blanca Fire was a lightning start along a mesa northeast of Mt. Taylor in the Mt. Taylor Ranger District, located right along the western edge of Sandoval County north of Marquez. The fire grew to a total of 1,307 acres by August 13th. There have been no reports of dam…
Drought Drought
Extreme drought was removed from the zone.
Drought Drought
Extreme drought persisted over the western and eastern edges of the zone.
The Balsam Wildfire was discovered during a very dry and critical fire weather event on the evening of April 27th, in Grants, NM. Fire crews were able to keep the fire to just 3 to 5 acres, but it unfortunately burned through a residential area. The Grants Fire Chief reported 7 s…
High Wind High Wind
The NM DOT station on I-40 at State Road 6 measured a peak wind gust of 65 mph.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
A trained spotter in San Fidel measured 4.3 inches of snowfall. Elsewhere in the zone, a CoCoRaHS observer in Grants measured 4.2 inches of snowfall.
Drought Drought
Extreme drought was introduced to the western and eastern edges of the zone.
High Wind High Wind
The NM DOT weather station along I-40 at NM 6 measured a peak gust of 59 mph. The Grants Airport AWOS and Laguna RAWS also measured a peak gust of 58 mph.
Drought Drought
Severe drought was introduced to the western portion of the zone.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Apparent temperatures as low as -22 degrees were observed within the zone.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
A CoCoRaHS observer in Grants measured 11.6 inches of snow.
Wildfire Wildfire
The Encerrita Wildfire was a lightning start discovered within the El Malpais National Monument. The fire burned a total of 2,499 acres resulting in no damage or loss of life.
Drought Drought
Severe drought was removed from the zone.
Drought Drought
Severe drought remained persistent across the northern third of the zone.
Drought Drought
Severe drought remained persistent across the northern third of the zone.
Drought Drought
Severe drought contracted to the northern part of the zone thanks to beneficial snowfall from several winter storms.
Drought Drought
Near normal to slightly above normal precipitation resulted in the slight removal of extreme drought to the northeastern portion of the zone. Severe drought remained persistent through the central portion of the zone.
Drought Drought
A dry and warm October resulted in the persistence of severe drought conditions in the central part of the zone and extreme drought conditions in the northern part of the zone.
Drought Drought
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the expansion of extreme drought conditions in the northern part of the zone.
Drought Drought
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the southward expansion of severe drought conditions and introduction of extreme drought conditions in the northern part of the zone.
High Wind High Wind
A decaying shower produced a dry microburst wind gust at the Grants airport.
High Wind High Wind
The Laguna RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 61 mph.
Drought Drought
Moderate to severe drought conditions from August 2022 continued in September.
Drought Drought
Moderate to severe drought conditions from July 2022 continued in August.
Drought Drought
Severe to extreme drought conditions from June 2022 improved to moderate to severe drought in July.
Wildfire Wildfire
The Cerro Bandera Fire began on June 9th on private land within the El Malpais National Monument. Dry and windy conditions allowed this fire to spread to 939 acres before it was contained on June 16th. Four structures, including one home, were destroyed. No other information was …
Drought Drought
Extreme drought conditions from May 2022 improved to severe to extreme drought conditions across the area in June.
Drought Drought
Extreme drought conditions from April 2022 continued in May.
High Wind High Wind
A New Mexico Department of Transportation weather station located at Interstate 40 and New Mexico State Road 6 measured a peak wind gust of 62 mph.
High Wind High Wind
A New Mexico Department of Transportation weather station at Interstate 40 and New Mexico State Road 6 measured a peak sustained wind speed of 48 mph.
Drought Drought
Severe drought conditions from March 2022 worsened in April with extreme drought conditions developing areawide.
Drought Drought
Severe drought conditions from February 2022 continued in March.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
A trained spotter near San Fidel measured seven inches of new snow.
Drought Drought
Severe drought conditions from January 2022 continued in February.
Drought Drought
Severe drought conditions from December 2021 continued in January 2022.
High Wind High Wind
A New Mexico Department of Transportation weather station located along Interstate 40 near Mesita measured a peak wind gust of 59 mph.
Drought Drought
Severe drought conditions from November 2021 continued in December.
Drought Drought
Severe conditions from October 2021 continued in November.
Drought Drought
Severe drought conditions from September 2021 continued in October.
Drought Drought
Severe drought conditions from August 2021 continued in September.
Drought Drought
Severe drought conditions from July 2021 continued in August.
Drought Drought
Severe drought conditions from June 2021 continued in July.
Drought Drought
Severe drought conditions from May 2021 continued in June.
Drought Drought
Severe drought conditions from April 2021 continued in May.
Drought Drought
Severe drought conditions from March 2021 continued in April.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 0 |
| 2025 | 10 | 0 |
| 2024 | 5 | 0 |
| 2023 | 7 | 0 |
| 2022 | 13 | 0 |
| 2021 | 14 | 0 |
| 2020 | 6 | 0 |
| 2019 | 10 | 0 |
| 2018 | 17 | 0 |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 |
| 2015 | 4 | 0 |
| 2014 | 5 | 0 |
| 2013 | 11 | 0 |
| 2012 | 5 | 0 |
| 2011 | 21 | 0 |
| 2010 | 2 | 0 |
| 2009 | 1 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in West Central Highlands County, measured to its path.
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