Sierra County, New Mexico
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 35051 · population 11,540 · 4,181 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 701 records for Sierra County, New Mexico from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 387 days; the most frequent are drought records (367 records). 551 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 September 13, 2013 flash flood: 1 death and $633,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 13 declarations naming the county since 1972, 11 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms and Flooding” on October 29, 2014.
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
- 701on 387 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 20 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $10Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 5strongest F1
- FEMA declarations
- 13latest 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 Sierra County most?
The most frequent records are drought records: 367 since 2011. 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 | 367 | 132 | 2011-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 24 of 33 |
| High wind and dust storms | 120 | 82 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $103K | 25 of 33 |
| Floods | 65 | 58 | 1996-2025 | 1 | 0 | $8.0M | 14 of 33 |
| Winter storms | 55 | 43 | 1997-2023 | 0 | 0 | $34K | 26 of 33 |
| Hail | 41 | 38 | 1957-2020 | 1 | 0 | $24K | 24 of 33 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 35 | 34 | 1960-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.7M | 22 of 33 |
| Heavy rain | 5 | 5 | 2004-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 12 of 33 |
| Tornadoes | 5 | 5 | 1958-1982 | 0 | 0 | $19K | 26 of 33 |
| Extreme cold | 3 | 2 | 2011-2025 | 0 | 0 | $197K | 31 of 33 |
| Heat | 3 | 1 | 2023-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 30 of 33 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 1 | 1 | 2016-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 10 of 33 |
| Wildfires | 1 | 1 | 2022-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | 26 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 Sierra County had?
NOAA records 5 tornadoes in Sierra County from 1958 to 1982, 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 5 tornadoes whose track touched Sierra 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 Sierra County (5)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982-06-20 | Sierra County | F0 0.1 mi x 3 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1971-09-16 | Sierra County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1970-07-24 | Sierra County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1960-06-11 | Sierra County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1958-05-16 | Sierra County | F0 0.3 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 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 Sierra County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the September 27, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($25,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-05 | Thunderstorm WindAleman, Sierra County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtSierra County and 2 more · forecast zone West Central Tularosa Basin/White Sands | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtGrant County and Sierra County · forecast zone Southern Gila Region Highlands/Black Range | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtSierra County · forecast zone Sierra County Lakes | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtGrant County and 2 more · forecast zone Eastern Black Range Foothills | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtSierra County and 2 more · forecast zone West Central Tularosa Basin/White Sands | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtGrant County and Sierra County · forecast zone Southern Gila Region Highlands/Black Range | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtSierra County · forecast zone Sierra County Lakes | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtGrant County and 2 more · forecast zone Eastern Black Range Foothills | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-26 | High WindGrant County and Sierra County · forecast zone Southern Gila Region Highlands/Black Range | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-26 | High WindSierra County · forecast zone Sierra County Lakes | 76 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-26 | High WindSierra County and 2 more · forecast zone West Central Tularosa Basin/White Sands | 76 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-09-13 | Flash FloodTruth/Consqnces, Sierra County The Sierra County Emergency Manager reported several bridges washed out and evacuations taking place around Truth or Consequences. A total of 3.35 inches of rain was reported at the New Mexico State Veterans Home. One death was reported by State Police in Ash Canyon near Elephant Butte Dam. A newspaper report said ... | 1 | 0 | $633K | |
| 1998-08-04 | HailKingston, Sierra County | 1.00 in hail | 1 | 0 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-07-26 | Flash FloodWilliamsburg, Sierra County | 0 | 0 | $2.7M | |
| 1996-06-29 | Flash FloodTruth Or Consequence, Sierra County | 0 | 0 | $1.9M | |
| 2015-08-17 | Thunderstorm WindElephant Butte, Sierra County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.4M |
| 2002-09-11 | Flash FloodCuchillo, Sierra County | 0 | 0 | $820K | |
| 2005-02-11 | FloodGrant County and 2 more · forecast zone Southwest Mountains/Lower Gila Region / X N Hildago / Grant Except S / W Sierra | 0 | 0 | $756K | |
| 2008-07-09 | Flash FloodTruth/Consqnces, Sierra County | 0 | 0 | $411K | |
| 2013-07-01 | Thunderstorm WindTruth/Consqnces, Sierra County | 74 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $127K |
| 2025-07-02 | Thunderstorm WindTruth Or Consequence, Sierra County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $50K |
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 $3K, in the dollars of the day) holds: September 16, 1971 (tornado, Sierra 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 Sierra 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 | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 160 | 207 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 4 | 4 | 50 | 62 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 5 | 25 | 27 | 8 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 3 | 15 | 21 | 16 |
| Hail | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 14 | 2 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 13 |
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 Sierra County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 54 · Feb 78 · Mar 66 · Apr 75 · May 52 · Jun 66 · Jul 74 · Aug 61 · Sep 57 · Oct 36 · Nov 35 · Dec 47 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Sierra County
FEMA's register lists 13 declarations that include Sierra County: 10 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (5) and flood (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-04-05 | DR-4529 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3460 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2014-10-29 | DR-4199 | 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 |
| 2011-03-24 | DR-1962 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Extreme Cold Temperatures |
| 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 |
| 1999-09-22 | DR-1301 | Severe Storm | Severe Ice Storms, Flooding and Heavy Rains |
| 1979-01-29 | DR-571 | Flood | Flooding |
| 1972-09-20 | DR-353 | Flood | Heavy Rains & 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 Sierra County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 65 flood or flash flood records for Sierra County from 1996 to 2025, on 58 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Sierra County ranks 2212th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $158,000 on 15 claims filed in Sierra County; the most in one year was 7 in 2013. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 1 · 1981: 1 · 1983: 1 · 1996: 3 · 2006: 1 · 2013: 7 · 2020: 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 Sierra County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Sierra County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $10.8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $9.1M | 1.9 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $378K | 75 modeled event-days a year |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $318K | 60 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $338K | once in about 507 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $45K | 5.2 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $81K | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $281K | once in about 12 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $817 | 1.5 a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Sierra 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 Sierra CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Sierra County's FEMA declarations (CSV)13 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis