PlainHazard

Curry County, New Mexico

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 35009 · population 48,395 · 1,406 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 992 records for Curry County, New Mexico from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 618 days; the most frequent are hail reports (342 records). The deadliest single record is the December 19, 2011 heavy snow, filed for the forecast zone Curry County, which covers the county: 4 deaths and 2 injuries. FEMA has issued 6 declarations naming the county since 2000, 4 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Tire Fire” on April 17, 2011.

The record, 1950 to 2026

Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).

  • recorded, no damage figure
  • under $100,000
  • $100,000 or more
  • $1 million or more
  • $10 million or more, or a death
  • $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
  • a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
  • a year with a death
  • 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
  • 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
Storm records
992on 618 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
949 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$173Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
55strongest EF2
FEMA declarations
6latest 2020

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.

What hazards hit Curry County most?

The most frequent records are hail reports: 342 since 1955. 70% of its hail reports since 1955 fell in May and June. The rank column places the county among New Mexico's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.

Curry County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Hail 342 171 1955-2025 0 6 $4.2M 2 of 33
Severe thunderstorm wind 198 136 1956-2026 0 1 $5.7M 1 of 33
High wind and dust storms 147 114 1996-2026 1 1 $4.5M 7 of 33
Drought 128 128 1996-2026 0 0 – 4 of 33
Tornadoes 55 44 1955-2024 2 34 $28M 1 of 33
Winter storms 44 44 1996-2025 6 4 $125M 15 of 33
Floods 33 28 1998-2025 0 0 $4.9M 8 of 33
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds 17 12 1997-2025 0 0 – 2 of 33
Heavy rain 9 9 1997-2019 0 0 – 2 of 33
Extreme cold 6 6 2011-2026 0 0 – 3 of 33
Lightning 5 5 1999-2019 0 0 $297K 4 of 33
Heat 4 4 1998-2017 0 0 – 3 of 33
Wildfires 4 4 2011-2023 0 3 $469K 15 of 33

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.

How many tornadoes has Curry County had?

NOAA records 55 tornadoes in Curry County from 1955 to 2024, the strongest rated EF2, with 2 deaths and 34 injuries recorded in the county. That is 1st of 33 New Mexico counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.

Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 57 tornadoes whose track touched Curry County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 55: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 2 people.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched Curry County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
2007-03-23 19:30, as SPC files itClovisEF212.45 mi2

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in New Mexico.

Every tornado record filed for Curry County (55)
Every tornado recorded in Curry County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2024-05-29 Cannon Afb, Curry County EFU 0.2 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2024-05-29 Field, Curry County EFU 0.1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2023-05-24 Grady, Curry County EFU 2.57 mi x 10 yd 0 0 –
2023-05-24 Broadview, Curry County EFU 1.71 mi x 20 yd 0 0 –
2023-05-23 Texico, Curry County EFU 0.5 mi x 20 yd 0 0 –
2021-05-17 Melrose, Curry County EF0 0.31 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2020-03-17 Pleasant Hill, Curry County EF0 0.46 mi x 100 yd 0 0 –
2019-12-27 Ranchvale, Curry County EF1 4.79 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $346K
2017-07-03 Broadview, Curry County EF0 0.82 mi x 30 yd 0 0 –
2014-06-06 Ranchvale, Curry County EF0 1.24 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2010-05-25 Pleasant Hill, Curry County EF0 0.1 mi x 10 yd 0 0 –
2007-03-23 Clovis Hillcrest Arp, Curry County EF2 8.02 mi x 350 yd 2 33 $23M
2003-06-04 Cannon Afb, Curry County F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd 0 0 –
2003-06-04 Melrose, Curry County F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd 0 0 –
2003-06-04 Clovis, Curry County F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd 0 0 –
2003-06-04 Cannon Afb, Curry County F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd 0 0 –
2002-06-16 Melrose, Curry County F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2000-06-28 Grady, Curry County F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd 0 0 –
2000-06-28 Grady, Curry County F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd 0 0 –
1998-10-30 Clovis, Curry County F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
1998-06-07 Clovis, Curry County F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
1998-06-07 St Vrain, Curry County F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
1996-06-10 Cannon Afb Clov, Curry County F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd 0 0 –
1994-05-26 Clovis, Curry County F0 1 mi x 75 yd 0 0 –
1992-06-27 Curry County F1 2 mi x 13 yd 0 0 $250K step
1992-04-14 Curry County F1 18 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $25K step
1991-06-06 Curry County F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd 0 0 –
1988-05-30 Curry County F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd 0 0 –
1983-07-29 Curry County F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd 0 0 $25K step
1982-03-18 Curry County F0 0 0 –
1980-06-18 Curry County F1 0 0 $3K step
1980-04-24 Curry County F0 0 0 $30 step
1979-04-18 Curry County 0 0 $25K step
1977-06-14 Curry County 0 0 $3K step
1977-05-23 Curry County F0 0 0 –
1977-05-23 Curry County F0 0 0 –
1972-07-20 Curry County F0 0 0 –
1972-07-02 Curry County F0 2 mi x 1,760 yd 0 0 –
1971-06-11 Curry County F1 0.5 mi x 33 yd 0 0 $25K step
1971-04-15 Curry County F1 2 mi x 33 yd 0 0 $250 step
1969-05-05 Curry County F0 0 0 –
1969-04-16 Curry County F1 0.1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $250 step
1967-03-23 Curry County F0 0 0 –
1964-06-13 Curry County F0 0 0 –
1964-06-12 Curry County F1 12.6 mi x 33 yd 0 0 $25K step
1964-06-11 Curry County F2 4.9 mi x 67 yd 0 0 $25K step
1964-06-10 Curry County F1 0.2 mi x 50 yd 0 1 $250 step
1960-07-20 Curry County F0 0 0 –
1959-06-22 Curry County F1 0 0 $3K step
1958-05-13 Curry County F0 0 0 –
1958-05-13 Curry County F0 0 0 –
1958-05-13 Curry County F0 0 0 –
1958-05-13 Curry County F0 0 0 –
1957-05-24 Curry County F2 36.5 mi x 37 yd 0 0 $250K step
1955-05-18 Curry County F1 0.3 mi x 20 yd 0 0 $3K step

A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.

When was the last damaging storm in Curry County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 25, 2025 hail ($5,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).

A severe thunderstorm produced baseball size hail 3 miles north of Broadview. The hail blew out the windows of the observer's truck and house.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1239009)
The 12 most recent records kept for Curry County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-06-26 Thunderstorm WindRanchvale, Curry County 56 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-01 DroughtCurry County · forecast zone Curry County 0 0 –
2026-05-22 Thunderstorm WindMelrose, Curry County 53 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-05-01 DroughtCurry County · forecast zone Curry County 0 0 –
2026-04-26 High WindCurry County · forecast zone Curry County 50 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-04-01 DroughtCurry County · forecast zone Curry County 0 0 –
2026-03-15 High WindCurry County · forecast zone Curry County 37 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-02-17 High WindCurry County · forecast zone Curry County 60 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-01-25 Extreme Cold/Wind ChillCurry County · forecast zone Curry County 0 0 –
2025-06-24 Flash FloodCannon Afb, Curry County 0 0 –
2025-06-21 Thunderstorm WindClovis Municipal Airport, Curry County 57 kt wind 0 0 –
2025-06-08 Thunderstorm WindCannon Afb, Curry County 51 kt wind 0 0 –

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.

The deadliest and costliest records

Records with deaths or injuries in Curry County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2011-12-19 Heavy SnowCurry County · forecast zone Curry County As 2 to 4 inches of snow fell across Curry County, roads quickly became icy. A driver of a Toyota sedan traveling on U.S. 60/84 four miles east of Melrose lost traction and slid head on into a pickup truck around 245 pm on the 19th. All four occupants of the sedan were killed, and both passengers of the pick up truck ... 4 2 –
2007-03-23 TornadoClovis Hillcrest Arp, Curry County A tornado that developed in Roosevelt County continued north northwest into Curry County for about 3.5 miles then tracked north northeast an additional 4.6 miles into southern and east central sections of Clovis. Intensity of the tornado appeared to wane from EF2 120 mph in Roosevelt County to EF1 100 mph as it moved ... EF2 8.02 mi x 350 yd 2 33 $23M
2011-12-25 Winter WeatherCurry County · forecast zone Curry County A 4-year old girl died after her family's SUV lost traction on an icy Highway 209 north of Clovis and overturned. The girl's mother and sister suffered minor injuries. 1 2 –
2013-02-24 BlizzardCurry County · forecast zone Curry County Snowfall amounts ranging from 5-12 inches were reported from co-op observers across the county with drifts measuring over one foot. Gusts into the fifties were recorded. NM DOT closed the main interstate that runs through this county as well as several side roads in the area due to the hazardous blizzard conditions. ... 1 0 –
2009-04-04 High WindCurry County · forecast zone Curry A wind gust to 58 mph was reported three miles northwest of Texico. A 35 year old man was killed in Clovis when a gust of wind caught a door on a semitrailer and slammed the man into the loading dock wall. He suffered head injuries. 52 kt wind 1 0 –
1992-06-27 HailCurry County 2.75 in hail 0 6 –
2011-04-17 WildfireCurry County · forecast zone Curry County Several media outlets as well as the Southwest Coordination Center reported that a grass fire erupted during the late morning hours of the 17th. A person traveling along Highway 267 had a blow out which caused sparks along the rim of the vehicle, igniting the fire. The Tire Fire raced eastward from six miles south of ... 0 3 $394K
2015-07-06 Thunderstorm WindClovis, Curry County Wet microburst winds toppled a metal grain silo onto a nearby truck, resulting in 1 injury. Two other silos were also severely damaged. Numerous tree branches were broken at a nearby home. A spotter reported storm total rainfall of 3.25 inches from these storms. 61 kt wind 0 1 $311K
The costliest records in Curry County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2007-03-23 TornadoClovis Hillcrest Arp, Curry County EF2 8.02 mi x 350 yd 2 33 $23M
2015-05-04 Flash FloodRanchvale, Curry County 0 0 $3.7M
2023-02-26 High WindCurry County · forecast zone Curry County 78 kt wind 0 0 $2.9M
1995-05-06 Thunderstorm WindCurry County 0 0 $2.9M
2010-06-12 HailClovis, Curry County 1.75 in hail 0 0 $1.7M
2023-05-24 Thunderstorm WindCannon Afb, Curry County 61 kt wind 0 0 $978K
1995-05-06 HailClovis, Curry County 1.75 in hail 0 0 $968K
2002-06-16 Thunderstorm WindMelrose, Curry County 60 kt wind 0 0 $492K

Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: May 24, 1957 (tornado, Curry County); June 27, 1992 (tornado, Curry County).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.

Is it getting more frequent?

Records per decade for Curry County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).

Curry County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Hail717912597111354
Severe thunderstorm wind2119916367540
High wind and dust storms––––4307241
Drought––––5275244
Tornadoes78858847
Winter storms––––791810

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).

What time of year?

70% of its hail reports since 1955 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 39 · Feb 65 · Mar 61 · Apr 83 · May 212 · Jun 239 · Jul 94 · Aug 67 · Sep 28 · Oct 39 · Nov 21 · Dec 44 (records).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.

Federal disaster declarations for Curry County

FEMA's register lists 6 declarations that include Curry County: 2 major disasters, 3 emergencies and one fire management assistance declaration. Most were for biological (2) and fire (2).

Declarations including Curry County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2020-04-05DR-4529BiologicalCovid-19 Pandemic
2020-03-13EM-3460BiologicalCovid-19
2011-04-17FM-2897FireTire Fire
2007-04-02DR-1690Severe StormSevere Storms and Tornadoes
2005-09-07EM-3229HurricaneHurricane Katrina Evacuation
2000-05-10EM-3154FireSevere Fire Threats

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.

How many floods has Curry County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 33 flood or flash flood records for Curry County from 1998 to 2025, on 28 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Curry County ranks 1612th of 2,942 U.S. counties.

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $563,000 on 56 claims filed in Curry County; the most in one year was 15 in 1988. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

1984: 3 · 1988: 15 · 1995: 1 · 1996: 9 · 1999: 1 · 2000: 2 · 2003: 1 · 2004: 2 · 2007: 1 · 2009: 2 · 2010: 5 · 2011: 1 · 2014: 6 · 2015: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2023: 4; the other years: 0.

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.

FEMA's modeled risk for Curry County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Curry County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $21.3 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.

National Risk Index ratings for Curry County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
DroughtRelatively High$4.3M104 modeled event-days a year
Winter WeatherRelatively High$678K8.5 a year (modeled)
WildfireRelatively Moderate$4.1Monce in about 117 years (modeled)
HailRelatively Moderate$1.5M2.9 a year (modeled)
LightningRelatively Moderate$294K50 a year (modeled)
Strong WindRelatively Moderate$644K1.3 a year (modeled)
Heat WaveRelatively Low$634K1.3 modeled event-days a year
TornadoRelatively Low$1.6Monce in about 2 years (modeled)

Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.

Counties that share a border with Curry County

  1. Quay County 1,009
  2. Curry County 992
  3. Deaf Smith County, TX 933
  4. Roosevelt County 833
  5. Parmer County, TX 693
  6. Bailey County, TX 611

Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.

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