Quay County, New Mexico
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 35037 · population 8,718 · 2,874 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 1,009 records for Quay County, New Mexico from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 673 days; the most frequent are hail reports (349 records). The deadliest single record is the December 17, 2016 winter weather, filed for the forecast zone Quay County, which covers the county: 1 death, 12 injuries and $492,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 7 declarations naming the county since 1977, 5 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms and Tornadoes” on April 2, 2007.
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
- 1,009on 673 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 448 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $23Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 43strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 7latest 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 Quay County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 349 since 1959. 70% of its hail reports since 1959 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.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 349 | 195 | 1959-2025 | 0 | 6 | $361K | 5 of 33 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 188 | 136 | 1956-2026 | 0 | 11 | $8.2M | 3 of 33 |
| High wind and dust storms | 163 | 134 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 2 | $4.1M | 14 of 33 |
| Drought | 143 | 143 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 11 of 33 |
| Winter storms | 56 | 56 | 1996-2025 | 2 | 13 | $974K | 22 of 33 |
| Tornadoes | 43 | 40 | 1950-2023 | 0 | 15 | $8.5M | 5 of 33 |
| Floods | 23 | 19 | 1997-2023 | 0 | 0 | $690K | 26 of 33 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 17 | 12 | 1998-2025 | 1 | 0 | – | 7 of 33 |
| Heavy rain | 10 | 9 | 2003-2017 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 of 33 |
| Wildfires | 7 | 6 | 2011-2026 | 1 | 1 | $317K | 16 of 33 |
| Extreme cold | 5 | 5 | 2011-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 13 of 33 |
| Heat | 5 | 5 | 1998-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | 8 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 Quay County had?
NOAA records 43 tornadoes in Quay County from 1950 to 2023, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 15 injuries recorded in the county. That is 5th 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 41 tornadoes whose track touched Quay County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 43: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in New Mexico.
Every tornado record filed for Quay County (43)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-06-05 | Nara Visa, Quay County | EFU 0.22 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-05-30 | Bard, Quay County | EF0 0.47 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-05-17 | Nara Visa, Quay County | EF0 2.67 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-07-09 | Tucumcari Airport, Quay County | EF0 0.31 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2007-03-23 | Logan, Quay County | EF1 2.67 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 12 | $5.0M |
| 2004-08-14 | San Jon, Quay County | F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2001-05-30 | Ragland, Quay County | F0 0.1 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-05-25 | Logan, Quay County | F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-08-04 | San Jon, Quay County | F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1996-05-30 | Logan, Quay County | F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-06-02 | Glen Rio, Quay County | F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-06-02 | Glen Rio, Quay County | F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-06-02 | Nara Visa To, Quay County | F1 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-06-02 | Nara Visa To, Quay County | F1 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1994-07-13 | San Jon, Quay County | F0 0.2 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1994-06-28 | San Jon, Quay County | F0 2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 1992-06-27 | Quay County | F1 5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 1 | $250K step |
| 1992-06-20 | Quay County | F0 0.5 mi x 13 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1989-05-16 | Quay County | F0 8 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1989-05-15 | Quay County | F1 10 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1988-06-13 | Quay County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1987-06-24 | Quay County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1981-06-30 | Quay County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1981-05-06 | Quay County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1979-08-15 | Quay County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1974-05-24 | Quay County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1972-07-17 | Quay County | F1 3.8 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
| 1972-07-03 | Quay County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1971-06-11 | Quay County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1971-04-18 | Quay County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1970-04-17 | Quay County | F2 39.8 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1970-03-30 | Quay County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1966-06-18 | Quay County | F1 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1965-06-25 | Quay County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1965-06-15 | Quay County | F1 4.3 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1964-06-11 | Quay County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1964-06-10 | Quay County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1963-07-12 | Quay County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1961-06-03 | Quay County | F2 4.3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
| 1961-05-23 | Quay County | F1 0.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1959-07-14 | Quay County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1957-05-27 | Quay County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1950-07-11 | Quay County | F1 3.8 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 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 Quay County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the May 14, 2026 wildfire ($20,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-26 | Thunderstorm WindTucumcari Airport, Quay County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-24 | Thunderstorm WindTucumcari Airport, Quay County | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-15 | Thunderstorm WindQuay County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-15 | Thunderstorm WindTucumcari Airport, Quay County | 54 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-02 | Thunderstorm WindEndee, Quay County | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtQuay County · forecast zone Quay County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-23 | Thunderstorm WindTucumcari Airport, Quay County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-14 | WildfireQuay County · forecast zone Quay County | 0 | 0 | $20K | |
| 2026-05-14 | WildfireQuay County · forecast zone Quay County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtQuay County · forecast zone Quay County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-28 | WildfireQuay County · forecast zone Quay County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-26 | High WindQuay County · forecast zone Quay County | 54 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-12-17 | Winter WeatherQuay County · forecast zone Quay County Bitterly cold temperatures, light snow, and breezy conditions created deadly travel conditions along Interstate 40 between Santa Rosa and Tucumcari. A 40 car pile-up prompted the closure of the highway with a dozen injuries and 1 fatality. | 1 | 12 | $492K | |
| 2017-06-21 | WildfireQuay County · forecast zone Quay County A wildfire that developed in Quay County experienced a 180 degree wind shift and burned over two volunteer firefighters while they were refilling their water tanker. One firefighter was killed and the other sustained burn injuries. The injured firefighter was released from the hospital. | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2012-02-11 | Freezing FogQuay County · forecast zone Quay County An animal rescue volunteer and an 8-week old puppy died in a crash on Interstate 40 near Tucumcari when freezing fog iced over the interstate. Her pickup slid off I-40 onto oncoming traffic around 10 am and hit a tractor-trailer rig. The semi then hit another vehicle and pinned it against the median barrier where both ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1997-01-05 | Winter StormQuay County · forecast zone Quay A winter storm produced widespread heavy snow and icy roads across much of New Mexico. Icy roads were the direct cause of numerous auto mishaps as many drivers failed to reduce speed in the early hours of the storm as road conditions deteriorated very quickly. At least two fatal accidents were directly related to the ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2007-03-23 | TornadoLogan, Quay County A small and possibly elevated landspout type tornado developed on the far east end of a rear flank outflow that swung south through east over Logan as a storm centered about 5 miles to the west moved north over Ute Lake. Damage along the track as it moved over the west side of Logan was intermittent with damage ... | EF1 2.67 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 12 | $5.0M |
| 2024-09-17 | Thunderstorm WindTucumcari Airport, Quay County The county Emergency Manager and Quay County Sun newspaper reported 10 commercial vehicles were blown over on I-40 due to severe thunderstorm wind gusts. This along with 7 other simultaneous crashes closed I-40 for several hours in both directions. Several people were taken to the local hospital in Tucumcari as ... | 61 kt wind | 0 | 10 | $94K |
| 1992-06-27 | HailQuay County | 2.50 in hail | 0 | 5 | – |
| 2011-04-26 | High WindQuay County · forecast zone Quay County The ASOS in Tucumcari recorded a peak wind gust of 58 mph. Approximately 5 north-northwest of Tucumcari, two large cottonwood trees feel onto a home, injuring an elderly couple. The home suffered severe damage. It's possible that the winds were stronger in this location, perhaps due to a dry microburst. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $52K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-06-16 | Thunderstorm WindLogan, Quay County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $6.4M |
| 2007-03-23 | TornadoLogan, Quay County | EF1 2.67 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 12 | $5.0M |
| 2019-03-13 | High WindQuay County · forecast zone Quay County | 62 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $4.0M |
| 2016-12-17 | Winter WeatherQuay County · forecast zone Quay County | 1 | 12 | $492K | |
| 2023-05-25 | Flash FloodTucumcari, Quay County | 0 | 0 | $484K | |
| 1995-06-02 | Thunderstorm WindNara Visa, Quay County | 0 | 0 | $387K | |
| 1997-04-24 | Winter StormQuay County · forecast zone Quay | 0 | 0 | $368K | |
| 2007-03-23 | HailLogan, Quay County | 1.25 in hail | 0 | 0 | $285K |
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: June 27, 1992 (tornado, Quay County); April 17, 1970 (tornado, Quay 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 Quay 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 1 | 5 | 9 | 23 | 71 | 104 | 85 | 51 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 39 | 59 | 59 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 3 | 25 | 74 | 61 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 6 | 27 | 62 | 48 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 8 | 18 | 23 | 7 |
| Tornadoes | 3 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
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 1959 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 42 · Feb 56 · Mar 65 · Apr 74 · May 216 · Jun 238 · Jul 99 · Aug 85 · Sep 29 · Oct 35 · Nov 29 · Dec 41 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Quay County
FEMA's register lists 7 declarations that include Quay County: 3 major disasters, 4 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for biological (2) and severe storm (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-04-05 | DR-4529 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3460 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2007-04-02 | DR-1690 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| 2005-09-07 | EM-3229 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2000-05-10 | EM-3154 | Fire | Severe Fire Threats |
| 1998-01-29 | DR-1202 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1977-03-02 | EM-3034 | Drought | Drought |
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 Quay County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 23 flood or flash flood records for Quay County from 1997 to 2023, on 19 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Quay County ranks 2321st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $33,000 on 11 claims filed in Quay County; the most in one year was 2 in 1979. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 2 · 1981: 2 · 1982: 1 · 1991: 1 · 1996: 2 · 2005: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2023: 1; 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 Quay County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Quay County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $5.7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $1.1M | 108 modeled event-days a year |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $150K | 11 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $428K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $486K | once in about 160 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $3.0M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $96K | 51 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Very Low | $85K | 2.4 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | $91K | 2.3 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 Quay 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
- Hail in New MexicoThe state's hail reports, 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 Quay CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Quay County's FEMA declarations (CSV)7 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis