Mora County, New Mexico
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 35033 · population 4,158 · 1,926 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 1,412 records for Mora County, New Mexico from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 830 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (454 records). 1,196 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 August 7, 2022 flash flood: 1 death, 1 injury and $20,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 20 declarations naming the county since 1965, 18 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Las Tusas Fire” on May 10, 2023.
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
- 1,412on 830 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 517 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $154Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 12strongest F1
- FEMA declarations
- 20latest 2023
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 Mora County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 454 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 454 | 285 | 1996-2026 | 2 | 3 | $300K | 3 of 33 |
| Drought | 388 | 161 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 5 of 33 |
| High wind and dust storms | 311 | 229 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 0 | $2.0M | 5 of 33 |
| Hail | 143 | 111 | 1961-2026 | 0 | 0 | $56K | 8 of 33 |
| Floods | 46 | 39 | 1999-2025 | 2 | 1 | $3.4M | 7 of 33 |
| Wildfires | 19 | 18 | 2009-2026 | 0 | 13 | $148M | 6 of 33 |
| Extreme cold | 13 | 10 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 2 of 33 |
| Tornadoes | 12 | 12 | 1965-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | 11 of 33 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 9 | 8 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | $2K | 30 of 33 |
| Heat | 7 | 4 | 1998-2017 | 0 | 0 | – | 6 of 33 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 7 | 5 | 1999-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 9 of 33 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 3 | 2 | 2006-2022 | 0 | 0 | $151K | 4 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 Mora County had?
NOAA records 12 tornadoes in Mora County from 1965 to 2022, the strongest rated F1, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. That is 11th 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 12 tornadoes whose track touched Mora County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 12, 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 Mora County (12)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-06-07 | Wagon Mound, Mora County | EF0 0.19 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-06-02 | Rainsville, Mora County | EF0 1.78 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-08-09 | Wagon Mound, Mora County | EF0 0.33 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-05-09 | Wagon Mound, Mora County | EF0 3.49 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2014-06-08 | Shoemaker, Mora County | EF0 2.82 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2007-06-03 | Ocate, Mora County | EF0 0.25 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1996-07-30 | Ojo Feliz, Mora County | F0 0.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1990-08-14 | Mora County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1990-07-23 | Mora County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1973-07-21 | Mora County | F1 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1969-06-08 | Mora County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1965-06-17 | Mora County | F0 0.1 mi x 17 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 Mora County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the October 20, 2025 high wind ($5,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-24 | HailOcate, Mora County | 0.88 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-02 | HailChacon, Mora County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtColfax County and Mora County · forecast zone Far Northeast Highlands | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtColfax County and 2 more · forecast zone East Slopes Sangre De Cristo Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtColfax County and 5 more · forecast zone Southern Sangre De Cristo Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtColfax County and Mora County · forecast zone Far Northeast Highlands | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtColfax County and 2 more · forecast zone East Slopes Sangre De Cristo Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-29 | WildfireColfax County and Mora County · forecast zone Far Northeast Highlands | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-22 | WildfireColfax County and 2 more · forecast zone East Slopes Sangre De Cristo Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtColfax County and Mora County · forecast zone Far Northeast Highlands | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtColfax County and 2 more · forecast zone East Slopes Sangre De Cristo Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-14 | High WindColfax County and Mora County · forecast zone Far Northeast Highlands | 70 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
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-08-07 | Flash FloodEl Turquillo, Mora County Heavy rain on the Calf Canyon burn scar caused flash flooding on Highway 434 near El Turquillo. A vehicle containing the 30-year-old driver John Vasquez and a 64-year-old passenger Benjamin Torres attempted to cross the flooded roadway, but were unsuccessful as the vehicle was caught in the flood waters. Vasquez was ... | 1 | 1 | $20K | |
| 2013-03-03 | Strong WindColfax County and 2 more · forecast zone East Slopes Of The Sangre De Cristo Mountains Wind gust to 54mph at the Angel Fire airport lead to an aircraft accident with 4 fatalities. | 47 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $127K |
| 2007-11-23 | Heavy SnowColfax County and 4 more · forecast zone Sangre De Cristo Mountains Eleven reports were received, mostly from co-op observers, ranging from 2 to 13 inches of snow. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2005-05-23 | FloodColfax County and 4 more · forecast zone Sangre De Cristo Mountains Some of the highest water levels in years were recorded on northern New Mexico streams and rivers as near record temperatures sent a wave of snow melt runoff into the watersheds of the upper Rio Grande and Pecos Rivers while heavy snowmelt from Colorado filled the Animas River at Farmington. This season's heavier snow ... | 1 | 0 | $45K | |
| 1997-01-11 | Winter StormColfax County and 4 more · forecast zone Sangre De Cristo Mountains The second winter storm in less than a week dumped another 20 to 45 inches of fresh snow across northern New Mexico in a period of 48 to 72 hours. Storm totals included 29 inches at Chama, 30 inches at Brazos Lodge, and nearly 4 feet of new snow at the ski resorts in Taos county. One man died of exposure near Embudo ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2022-05-01 | WildfireColfax County and 2 more · forecast zone East Slopes Sangre De Cristo Mountains The Cooks Peak Fire started on April 17, 2022 on private land north of Ocate. As a persistent windy pattern continued through the month of April, the fire grew rapidly to 59,063 acres. At the start of the month of May, Philmont Scout Ranch Back Country west of New Mexico State Road 21 in Colax County were given ... | 0 | 10 | $11M | |
| 2022-05-01 | WildfireColfax County and 2 more · forecast zone East Slopes Sangre De Cristo Mountains The Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fire continued to devastate the area as it grew significantly during the month of May. The wildfire at the end of April was at 103,908 acres, but continued strong winds across the area throughout the month of May allowed the wildfire to spread rapidly. Within the first three days of ... | 0 | 3 | $101M | |
| 2011-12-19 | BlizzardColfax County and Mora County · forecast zone Far Northeast Highlands The Interstate 25 corridor was hit hard with nearly 15 inches of snow in Wagon Mound. 7 inches of snow was also reported around Abbott. The Raton ASOS measured a gust of 60 mph during the event. Sustained winds of 35 to 45 mph caused substantial blowing and drifting snow. Snow drifts were over 4 feet. A horse trailer ... | 0 | 3 | $4K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-05-01 | WildfireColfax County and 2 more · forecast zone East Slopes Sangre De Cristo Mountains | 0 | 3 | $101M | |
| 2022-04-19 | WildfireColfax County and 2 more · forecast zone East Slopes Sangre De Cristo Mountains | 0 | 0 | $25M | |
| 2022-05-01 | WildfireColfax County and 2 more · forecast zone East Slopes Sangre De Cristo Mountains | 0 | 10 | $11M | |
| 2022-04-06 | WildfireColfax County and 2 more · forecast zone East Slopes Sangre De Cristo Mountains | 0 | 0 | $10M | |
| 2021-07-13 | Flash FloodChacon, Mora County | 0 | 0 | $817K | |
| 2022-07-21 | Flash FloodHolman, Mora County | 0 | 0 | $504K | |
| 1999-04-30 | Flash FloodMora County | 0 | 0 | $354K | |
| 2022-07-02 | Flash FloodMora County | 0 | 0 | $303K |
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 Mora 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 67 | 112 | 191 | 84 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 12 | 54 | 174 z | 148 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 18 | 59 | 119 | 115 |
| Hail | 0 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 26 | 48 | 41 | 20 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 1 | 2 | 4 | 39 |
| Wildfires | – | – | – | – | 0 | 1 | 5 | 13 |
Drought in the 2010s: 174 records against 54 in the decade before, 174 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 Mora 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 Mora County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 147 · Feb 179 · Mar 182 · Apr 140 · May 108 · Jun 119 · Jul 92 · Aug 78 · Sep 36 · Oct 65 · Nov 112 · Dec 154 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Mora County
FEMA's register lists 20 declarations that include Mora County: 12 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 5 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for fire (8) and flood (5).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-05-10 | FM-5465 | Fire | Las Tusas Fire |
| 2022-05-04 | DR-4652 | Fire | Wildfires, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Mudflows, and Debris Flows |
| 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 |
| 2006-06-21 | FM-2647 | Fire | Rivera Mesa Fire |
| 2006-04-12 | FM-2636 | Fire | Ojo Feliz Fire |
| 2005-09-07 | EM-3229 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-04-29 | DR-1514 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2002-06-04 | FM-2415 | Fire | Nm-Cerro Pelado-6-2-02 |
| 2000-06-15 | FM-2310 | Fire | Nm-La Cueva Fire |
| 2000-05-13 | DR-1329 | Fire | Severe Forest Fire |
| 2000-05-10 | EM-3154 | Fire | Severe Fire Threats |
| 1999-09-22 | DR-1301 | Severe Storm | Severe Ice Storms, Flooding and Heavy Rains |
| 1998-01-29 | DR-1202 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1979-06-23 | DR-589 | Flood | Severe Storms, Snowmelt & Flooding |
| 1973-05-11 | DR-380 | Flood | Severe Storms, Snow Melt & Flooding |
| 1965-07-01 | DR-202 | 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 Mora County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 46 flood or flash flood records for Mora County from 1999 to 2025, on 39 days, with 2 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Mora County ranks 1530th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $478,000 on 64 claims filed in Mora County; the most in one year was 34 in 2025. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
2022: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 23 · 2025: 34 · 2026: 3; 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 Mora County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Mora County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $7.1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate | $2.7M | once in about 98 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $6K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $194K | 147 modeled event-days a year |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $4.0M | 1.1 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $25K | 20 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $61K | 68 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $29K | once in about 1,047 years (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Very Low | $28 | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Mora 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
- Winter storms in New MexicoThe state's winter storm 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 Mora CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Mora County's FEMA declarations (CSV)20 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis