Sandoval County, New Mexico
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 35043 · population 148,310 · 3,710 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 1,791 records for Sandoval County, New Mexico from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 796 days; the most frequent are drought records (672 records). 1,544 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 May 24, 2015 strong wind, filed for the forecast zone Albuquerque Metro Area, which covers the county: 3 deaths and 3 injuries. FEMA has issued 21 declarations naming the county since 1973, 19 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Wildfires, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Mudflows, and Debris Flows” on May 4, 2022.
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
- 1,791on 796 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 30190 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $98Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 11strongest F1
- FEMA declarations
- 21latest 2022
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 Sandoval County most?
The most frequent records are drought records: 672 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 | 672 | 179 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 12 of 33 |
| Winter storms | 438 | 239 | 1996-2026 | 20 | 103 | $1.6M | 9 of 33 |
| High wind and dust storms | 367 | 220 | 1996-2026 | 4 | 59 | $10M | 11 of 33 |
| Floods | 98 | 71 | 1996-2025 | 1 | 0 | $25M | 9 of 33 |
| Hail | 95 | 58 | 1965-2026 | 0 | 9 | $4.3M | 21 of 33 |
| Wildfires | 38 | 37 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 5 | $56M | 5 of 33 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 28 | 21 | 1990-2026 | 0 | 0 | $218K | 28 of 33 |
| Heat | 18 | 8 | 1997-2017 | 2 | 1 | – | 4 of 33 |
| Extreme cold | 13 | 5 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 18 of 33 |
| Tornadoes | 11 | 11 | 1966-2025 | 0 | 0 | $647K | 20 of 33 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 5 | 5 | 2002-2023 | 0 | 4 | $86K | 19 of 33 |
| Lightning | 4 | 4 | 1997-2019 | 1 | 9 | $167K | 6 of 33 |
| Heavy rain | 3 | 3 | 2006-2016 | 2 | 0 | – | 17 of 33 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 1 | 1 | 2026-2026 | 0 | 0 | $50K | 9 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 Sandoval County had?
NOAA records 11 tornadoes in Sandoval County from 1966 to 2025, the strongest rated F1, 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 13 tornadoes whose track touched Sandoval County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 11: 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 Sandoval County (11)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-08-19 | Sandia Pueblo, Sandoval County | EFU 0.67 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-05-11 | Jemez Spgs, Sandoval County | EFU 0.25 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-07-23 | Bernalillo, Sandoval County | EF0 0.03 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-05-17 | Domingo, Sandoval County | EF0 1.74 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2018-05-21 | Cochiti Pueblo, Sandoval County | EF0 3.84 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-07-06 | San Felipe Pueblo, Sandoval County | EF0 0.04 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2007-06-09 | Domingo, Sandoval County | EF0 3.75 mi x 18 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-05-25 | Cuba, Sandoval County | F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1991-05-20 | Sandoval County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1988-09-13 | Sandoval County | F1 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1966-08-30 | Sandoval County | F1 1.5 mi x 33 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 Sandoval County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 26, 2026 debris flow ($50,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-26 | HailJemez Spgs, Sandoval County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-26 | Debris FlowJemez Spgs, Sandoval County | 0 | 0 | $50K | |
| 2026-06-25 | Thunderstorm WindEl Llanito, Sandoval County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-24 | WildfireLos Alamos County and 2 more · forecast zone Jemez Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-16 | WildfireLos Alamos County and 2 more · forecast zone Jemez Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-04 | HailFrijoles, Sandoval County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtBernalillo County and 4 more · forecast zone Sandia/Manzano Mountains Including Edgewood | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtBernalillo County and 4 more · forecast zone Middle Rio Grande Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtLos Alamos County and 2 more · forecast zone Jemez Mountains | 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 | DroughtRio Arriba County and 2 more · forecast zone Far Northwest Highlands | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-05-24 | Strong WindBernalillo County and 2 more · forecast zone Albuquerque Metro Area Cherry picker crane carrying several individuals at Cochiti Road and Dorothy Street was toppled by an erratic outflow wind gust between 30 and 40 mph. The crane operator and one child were killed on the scene. Three others were injured. One of the injured children died several days later in the hospital. | 35 kt wind | 3 | 3 | – |
| 2024-11-07 | Winter WeatherBernalillo County and 2 more · forecast zone Santa Fe Metro Area Heavy snow up to a foot caused power outages from San Ildefonso to Gallisteo and Santa Fe. State government offices were shutdown on November 7th. Unfortunately the cold resulted in two fatalities, one on the morning of the 7th and another on the morning of the 8th in Santa Fe. An unidentified male in his 50s was ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2016-08-18 | Heavy RainSanta Ana Pueblo, Sandoval County Water over roadway from heavy rainfall resulted in a hydroplaning accident along U.S. Highway 550 near the National Guard Armory north of Rio Rancho. Accident resulted in drivers of both vehicles being killed. | 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 | – | |
| 2008-12-15 | Heavy SnowRio Arriba County and 2 more · forecast zone Upper Rio Grande Valley Eight to 12 inches of snow fell over much of the Upper Rio Grande Valley. | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2019-01-01 | Heavy SnowBernalillo County and 2 more · forecast zone Albuquerque Metro Area Snowfall amounts ranged from two to seven inches around the Albuquerque Metro Area. Difficult travel conditions due to snow, blowing snow, low visibility, and frigid temperatures were reported. Very cold temperatures resulted in frozen and burst water pipes at 40 public schools of which 25 were severely damaged. APS ... | 1 | 66 | $577K | |
| 2009-07-04 | LightningRio Rancho, Sandoval County Jarrod Truesdale, a 26 year old man, was killed by a lightning strike in the parking lot of Rio Rancho High School before a fireworks show. His wife, 26, was also struck and sustained serious injuries. Their 4 kids, ranging from 18 months to 7 years in age, as well as the wife's 21 year old sister also sustained ... | 1 | 6 | – | |
| 2022-02-02 | Heavy SnowBernalillo County and 2 more · forecast zone Middle Rio Grande Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area Numerous sources reported heavy snow across the Albuquerque metro area. Snow totals varied across the city with the highest totals located in the northern half of the metro where a CoCoRaHS observer in Rio Rancho measured 7.5 inches of snow. At the official climate site at the Albuquerque International Airport, the ... | 1 | 3 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-07-01 | WildfireLos Alamos County and 2 more · forecast zone Jemez Mountains | 0 | 0 | $22M | |
| 2008-04-15 | WildfireBernalillo County and 5 more · forecast zone Sandia/Manzano Mountains | 0 | 0 | $12M | |
| 2022-04-22 | WildfireLos Alamos County and 2 more · forecast zone Jemez Mountains | 0 | 0 | $10M | |
| 2011-08-22 | Flash FloodCochiti Pueblo, Sandoval County | 0 | 0 | $7.9M | |
| 2011-08-21 | Flash FloodFrijoles, Sandoval County | 0 | 0 | $6.2M | |
| 2011-12-01 | High WindBernalillo County and 2 more · forecast zone Albuquerque Metro Area | 76 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5.9M |
| 2025-06-21 | WildfireBernalillo County and 4 more · forecast zone Middle Rio Grande Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area | 0 | 0 | $4.0M | |
| 2010-10-02 | HailSanto Domingo Pueblo, Sandoval County | 1.25 in hail | 0 | 0 | $2.7M |
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: September 13, 1988 (tornado, Sandoval 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 Sandoval 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 | – | – | – | – | 25 | 108 | 251 | 288 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 71 | 111 | 155 | 101 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 34 | 54 | 151 | 128 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 6 | 14 | 62 | 16 |
| Hail | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 26 | 41 | 15 |
| Wildfires | – | – | – | – | 1 | 4 | 14 | 19 |
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 Sandoval County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 168 · Feb 200 · Mar 188 · Apr 218 · May 130 · Jun 141 · Jul 149 · Aug 122 · Sep 97 · Oct 93 · Nov 102 · Dec 183 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Sandoval County
FEMA's register lists 21 declarations that include Sandoval County: 11 major disasters, 4 emergencies and 6 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for fire (9) and severe storm (4).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2017-06-15 | FM-5184 | Fire | El Cajete Fire |
| 2014-10-06 | DR-4197 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2013-10-29 | DR-4152 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| 2013-09-30 | DR-4148 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2012-08-24 | DR-4079 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2012-06-20 | FM-2982 | Fire | Romero Fire |
| 2011-11-23 | DR-4047 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2011-06-26 | FM-2933 | Fire | Las Conchas Fire |
| 2010-06-02 | FM-2843 | Fire | Rio Fire |
| 2010-05-24 | FM-2842 | Fire | Cabazon Fire |
| 2006-08-30 | DR-1659 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-07 | EM-3229 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2002-08-26 | FM-2459 | Fire | Nm - Lakes Fire Complex - 08/26/02 |
| 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 |
| 1977-03-02 | EM-3034 | Drought | Drought |
| 1973-05-11 | DR-380 | Flood | Severe Storms, Snow Melt & 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 Sandoval County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 98 flood or flash flood records for Sandoval County from 1996 to 2025, on 71 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Sandoval County ranks 1655th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $359,000 on 51 claims filed in Sandoval County; the most in one year was 5 in 1980. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 3 · 1980: 5 · 1981: 1 · 1982: 1 · 1987: 1 · 1990: 5 · 1994: 1 · 1999: 1 · 2001: 2 · 2002: 2 · 2003: 1 · 2004: 1 · 2006: 4 · 2007: 1 · 2009: 1 · 2010: 2 · 2012: 2 · 2013: 5 · 2014: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2026: 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 Sandoval County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Sandoval County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $31.5 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 | $1.1M | 65 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $90K | 1.9 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate | $2.2M | once in about 510 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $21M | 2.4 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | $1.3M | 0.7 modeled event-days a year |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $172K | 18 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $582K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $528K | 127 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 Sandoval 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 Sandoval CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Sandoval County's FEMA declarations (CSV)21 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis