McKinley County, New Mexico
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 35031 · population 72,241 · 5,451 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 1,313 records for McKinley County, New Mexico from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 589 days; the most frequent are drought records (667 records). 1,193 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The deadliest single record is the July 11, 2008 flash flood: 3 deaths and $55,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 11 declarations naming the county since 1972, 9 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides” on October 29, 2013.
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
- 1,313on 589 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 3921 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $6.4Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 5strongest EF0
- FEMA declarations
- 11latest 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 McKinley County most?
The most frequent records are drought records: 667 since 1996. 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.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | 667 | 180 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 22 of 33 |
| Winter storms | 319 | 188 | 1996-2026 | 16 | 7 | $189K | 13 of 33 |
| High wind and dust storms | 168 | 121 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 5 | $705K | 23 of 33 |
| Floods | 65 | 44 | 1997-2025 | 12 | 1 | $2.3M | 21 of 33 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 34 | 31 | 1962-2026 | 0 | 0 | $235K | 27 of 33 |
| Extreme cold | 16 | 12 | 1996-2025 | 10 | 0 | – | 10 of 33 |
| Heat | 12 | 5 | 1998-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 17 of 33 |
| Hail | 10 | 9 | 1969-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 32 of 33 |
| Wildfires | 9 | 9 | 2012-2025 | 0 | 5 | $2.9M | 18 of 33 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 5 | 5 | 2013-2022 | 1 | 1 | $63K | 21 of 33 |
| Tornadoes | 5 | 5 | 2016-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 27 of 33 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 1997-2005 | 0 | 0 | $23K | 24 of 33 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 1997-1997 | 0 | 2 | – | 21 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 McKinley County had?
NOAA records 5 tornadoes in McKinley County from 2016 to 2024, the strongest rated EF0, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. 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 5 tornadoes whose track touched McKinley County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 5, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in New Mexico.
Every tornado record filed for McKinley County (5)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-06-14 | Crownpoint Bia Airport, McKinley County | EFU 2.55 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2023-05-13 | Rehoboth, McKinley County | EFU 0.51 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-05-30 | Hospah, McKinley County | EF0 0.42 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-02-17 | Hospah, McKinley County | EF0 0.24 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-08-13 | Hospah, McKinley County | EF0 0.01 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
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 McKinley County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the September 28, 2025 flash flood (1 death).
A woman driving home on New Mexico Highway 602 about 5 miles south of Gallup was swept away in floodwaters, according to Navajo Nation and New Mexico State Police. Tragically, her deceased body was found after a five day search and rescue operation in nearby areas.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1289162)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-28 | High WindCatron County and 2 more · forecast zone West Central Plateau | 54 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-27 | High WindCatron County and 2 more · forecast zone West Central Plateau | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-26 | Thunderstorm WindGallup Airport, McKinley County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-26 | HailMentmore, McKinley County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-24 | Thunderstorm WindGallup Airport, McKinley County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-09 | High WindCatron County and 2 more · forecast zone West Central Plateau | 54 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtBernalillo County and 5 more · forecast zone West Central Highlands | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtCatron County and 4 more · forecast zone West Central Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtCatron County and 2 more · forecast zone West Central Plateau | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtMcKinley County and 3 more · forecast zone Northwest Highlands | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtMcKinley County and San Juan County · forecast zone Chuska Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtMcKinley County and San Juan County · forecast zone Northwest Plateau | 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
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-07-11 | Flash FloodGamerco, McKinley County The heavy rain caused water up to three feet deep to flow through downtown Gallup, on either side of Interstate 40. A rock slide occurred near the intersection of West Jefferson Avenue and Highway 491, causing a large boulder to crush three transients who were seeking shelter from the rain. A section of Highway 491 ... | 3 | 0 | $55K | |
| 2016-09-02 | Flash FloodTohatchi, McKinley County Father and daughter killed after entering a flooded arroyo. | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2008-12-25 | Heavy SnowMcKinley County and 3 more · forecast zone Northwest Mountains Including Jemez While much of the area only received a few inches of snow, Chama reported around two feet of snow over the 2 day period. | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2006-08-24 | Flash FloodChurch Rock, McKinley County A man and his young son drowned when their vehicle was swept down stream trying to cross a flooded arroyo near Church Rock. Officials reported other people escaping without injuries as their vehicles also became trapped at flooded road crossings across west central and northwest McKinley County. A clogged drainage ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2001-01-27 | Winter StormCatron County and 3 more · forecast zone Westcentral Mountains A slow-moving winter storm howled into northern and central New Mexico with gusty winds, heavy snow which closed state highways and many rural roads and contributed to two deaths from exposure. Tribal police found one body just north of Gallup and another near Bluewater. Details were not released. The storm produced ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2010-02-04 | Winter WeatherCatron County and 2 more · forecast zone West Central Plateau A family from California was headed east on I-40 when they hit a patch of ice around 930 am in Gallup. Their pickup truck slid into the westbound lanes where it struck a second pickup truck head on. Martha R. Toscano, 45, died in the crash. Moreno G. Toscano, 51 and their 4 month old child, Emmuel as well as James T. ... | 1 | 3 | – | |
| 2018-12-31 | Heavy SnowMcKinley County and 3 more · forecast zone Northwest Highlands Snowfall amounts ranged from three to nine inches along the Continental Divide region of U.S. Highway 550. Severe travel conditions due to snow, low visibility, and frigid temperatures were reported across much of the area. 12-year old Alexander Steven Madsen was killed when two vehicles collided on icy roads along ... | 1 | 2 | – | |
| 2009-03-30 | Winter WeatherCatron County and 3 more · forecast zone Westcentral Mountains An Illinois man died when two vehicles crashed on Interstate 40, 12 miles west of Gallup. The freeway was coated with slush and ice from an overnight light snow event. A full sized van lost control on eastbound I-40 at mile marker 9, crossed the median and crashed into a SUV that was heading west at 800 am MDT. The ... | 1 | 2 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-06-18 | WildfireMcKinley County and San Juan County · forecast zone Northwest Plateau | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | |
| 2014-06-15 | WildfireMcKinley County and San Juan County · forecast zone Northwest Plateau | 0 | 0 | $623K | |
| 2025-04-27 | WildfireBernalillo County and 5 more · forecast zone West Central Highlands | 0 | 2 | $500K | |
| 2015-07-04 | Flash FloodRehoboth, McKinley County | 1 | 0 | $374K | |
| 2021-05-16 | WildfireMcKinley County and San Juan County · forecast zone Northwest Plateau | 0 | 0 | $327K | |
| 2021-12-15 | Thunderstorm WindGallup Airport, McKinley County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $163K |
| 2013-11-30 | Freezing FogMcKinley County and San Juan County · forecast zone Northwest Plateau | 1 | 1 | $63K | |
| 2017-06-20 | WildfireMcKinley County and San Juan County · forecast zone Northwest Plateau | 0 | 3 | $60K |
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 McKinley 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).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 18 | 81 | 310 z | 258 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 48 | 105 | 114 | 52 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 14 | 36 | 52 | 66 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 3 | 18 | 33 | 11 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 11 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 6 | 1 | 6 | 3 |
Drought in the 2010s: 310 records against 81 in the decade before, 310 of them forecast-zone records. Cells marked z rose mostly through zone records. The local National Weather Service office files these once per forecast zone, so a change in how it draws its zones or splits a storm into records moves this count as much as the weather does; read it beside the McKinley County days with a record above.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
Records by month in McKinley County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 155 · Feb 150 · Mar 121 · Apr 149 · May 98 · Jun 102 · Jul 87 · Aug 87 · Sep 80 · Oct 70 · Nov 82 · Dec 132 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for McKinley County
FEMA's register lists 11 declarations that include McKinley County: 8 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (5) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-04-05 | DR-4529 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3460 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2013-10-29 | DR-4152 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| 2010-09-13 | DR-1936 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2006-08-30 | DR-1659 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-07 | EM-3229 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2000-05-13 | DR-1329 | Fire | Severe Forest Fire |
| 2000-05-10 | EM-3154 | Fire | Severe Fire Threats |
| 1993-06-07 | DR-992 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1973-05-11 | DR-380 | Flood | Severe Storms, Snow Melt & Flooding |
| 1972-08-01 | DR-346 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
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 McKinley County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 65 flood or flash flood records for McKinley County from 1997 to 2025, on 44 days, with 12 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), McKinley County ranks 2085th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $31,000 on 20 claims filed in McKinley County; the most in one year was 4 in 1990. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1980: 2 · 1984: 1 · 1988: 1 · 1990: 4 · 2003: 1 · 2009: 2 · 2010: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2026: 2; 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 McKinley County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates McKinley County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $20.8 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.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning | Relatively High | $938K | 55 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | $230K | 15 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $3.1M | once in about 19 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $22K | 1.6 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $15M | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $191K | once in about 2,470 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $717K | once in about 584 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $119K | 0.6 modeled event-days a year |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with McKinley County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in New MexicoEvery New Mexico tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Drought in New MexicoThe state's drought records, by county, year and month
- The New Mexico recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in McKinley CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download McKinley County's FEMA declarations (CSV)11 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis