Socorro County, New Mexico
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 35053 · population 16,505 · 6,646 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 1,607 records for Socorro County, New Mexico from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 681 days; the most frequent are drought records (638 records). 1,419 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 January 27, 2001 winter storm, filed for the forecast zone Westcentral Mountains, which covers the county: 2 deaths. FEMA has issued 12 declarations naming the county since 2000, 10 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
- 1,607on 681 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 1056 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $95Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 10strongest EF1
- FEMA declarations
- 12latest 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 Socorro County most?
The most frequent records are drought records: 638 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 | 638 | 158 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 30 of 33 |
| High wind and dust storms | 413 | 214 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 6 | $1.7M | 19 of 33 |
| Winter storms | 308 | 161 | 1996-2026 | 6 | 29 | $2.0M | 19 of 33 |
| Hail | 61 | 50 | 1978-2025 | 0 | 1 | $63M | 25 of 33 |
| Floods | 55 | 42 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $6.1M | 28 of 33 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 55 | 44 | 1994-2025 | 0 | 0 | $145K | 25 of 33 |
| Wildfires | 32 | 31 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 20 | $22M | 9 of 33 |
| Heat | 16 | 4 | 1998-2017 | 0 | 0 | – | 23 of 33 |
| Extreme cold | 13 | 8 | 1996-2025 | 3 | 0 | – | 19 of 33 |
| Tornadoes | 10 | 9 | 1950-2021 | 0 | 0 | $308K | 24 of 33 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 1997-1998 | 0 | 0 | $377K | 27 of 33 |
| Lightning | 2 | 2 | 2008-2017 | 1 | 0 | $41K | 19 of 33 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 1998-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 25 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 Socorro County had?
NOAA records 10 tornadoes in Socorro County from 1950 to 2021, the strongest rated EF1, 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 10 tornadoes whose track touched Socorro County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 10, 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 Socorro County (10)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-05-31 | Contreras, Socorro County | EF0 0.87 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-05-31 | Kinney Wells, Socorro County | EF0 0.92 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-05-17 | Scholle, Socorro County | EF0 0.67 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-07-15 | Veguita, Socorro County | EF0 0.35 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2012-07-05 | Socorro Airport, Socorro County | EF0 0.13 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2012-05-13 | Magdalena Municipal Airport, Socorro County | EF1 1.17 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2005-04-17 | Bernardo, Socorro County | F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1965-08-02 | Socorro County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1954-05-17 | Socorro County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1950-08-02 | Socorro County | F1 7.9 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K 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 Socorro County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the October 7, 2025 flash flood ($10,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-21 | WildfireCatron County and Socorro County · forecast zone Southwest Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-20 | WildfireLincoln County and 3 more · forecast zone South Central Highlands | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-09 | WildfireCatron County and Socorro County · forecast zone Southwest Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtCatron County and Socorro County · forecast zone San Agustin Plains And Adjacent Lowlands | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtSocorro County · forecast zone Lower Rio Grande Valley | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtCatron County and Socorro County · forecast zone Southwest 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 | – | |
| 2026-05-08 | WildfireCatron County and Socorro County · forecast zone Southwest Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtCatron County and Socorro County · forecast zone San Agustin Plains And Adjacent Lowlands | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtSocorro County · forecast zone Lower Rio Grande Valley | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtCatron County and Socorro County · forecast zone Southwest Mountains | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | – | |
| 2009-12-30 | Winter WeatherBernalillo County and 4 more · forecast zone West Central Highlands Though snow amounts were generally 2 inches or less, it was enough to create slick roads. Luis Segovia-Cabrera, age 39, sustained massive head injuries after he lost control of his SUV and crossed the median on Interstate 40 near exit 96 and crashed into a commercial tractor-trailer head-on. It is suspected he was ... | 1 | 3 | – | |
| 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 | – | |
| 2017-07-15 | LightningSocorro County A 93-year old woman died from a lightning caused fire at her home of 80 years. She died from smoke inhalation. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2010-12-16 | Heavy SnowBernalillo County and 4 more · forecast zone West Central Highlands Around Tohajiillee, 6 to 7 inches of snow was reported. Just west of Grants, a man driving too fast for the wintry conditions on Interstate 40, loss control and veered off the highway. The 65-year old man died when the vehicle struck lava rocks and overturned. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2009-03-26 | Winter WeatherCatron County and 3 more · forecast zone Westcentral Mountains A Gallup woman, Denise Caleb, was killed in her SUV on Interstate 40 due to icy roads and windy conditions. Her vehicle was heading east on I-40 near Gallup when she lost control and crossed the median and went into oncoming traffic. Her SUV was struck by a tractor-trailer. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1997-01-27 | Cold/Wind ChillCatron County and 3 more · forecast zone Westcentral Mountains One man was found in Gallup covered in frost and lying in a sleeping position. Another man, found near Shiprock, died of hypothermia or exposure. Overnight low temperature from both Gallup and Farmington was near 32 degrees. Intermittent light snow was reported the previous evening, but produced no snow cover. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1997-01-19 | Cold/Wind ChillCatron County and 3 more · forecast zone Westcentral Mountains Exposure was listed as the cause of death for a man found near Tsayatoh. Overnight temperatures were in the single digits over a 3 to 5 inch snow cover. | 1 | 0 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-10-05 | HailSocorro County | 3.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $62M |
| 2008-04-15 | WildfireBernalillo County and 5 more · forecast zone Sandia/Manzano Mountains | 0 | 0 | $12M | |
| 2012-05-09 | WildfireCatron County and Socorro County · forecast zone Southwest Mountains | 0 | 5 | $3.2M | |
| 2012-06-01 | WildfireCatron County and Socorro County · forecast zone Southwest Mountains | 0 | 0 | $2.9M | |
| 2013-09-10 | FloodLa Joya, Socorro County | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | |
| 1997-04-24 | Winter StormSan Miguel County and 3 more · forecast zone Central High Plains/Estancia Valley County | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | |
| 2008-06-23 | WildfireBernalillo County and 5 more · forecast zone Sandia/Manzano Mountains | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | |
| 2013-07-26 | Flash FloodLaborcita, Socorro County | 0 | 0 | $760K |
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 $25K, in the dollars of the day) holds: August 2, 1950 (tornado, Socorro 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 Socorro 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 | – | – | – | – | 30 | 135 | 242 | 231 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 27 | 98 | 155 | 133 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 63 | 115 | 87 | 43 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 17 | 19 | 14 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 10 | 6 | 26 | 13 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 21 | 29 |
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 Socorro County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 144 · Feb 197 · Mar 199 · Apr 209 · May 125 · Jun 118 · Jul 128 · Aug 84 · Sep 75 · Oct 81 · Nov 86 · Dec 161 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Socorro County
FEMA's register lists 12 declarations that include Socorro County: 7 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 2 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for fire (4) and severe storm (3).
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 2004-06-18 | FM-2522 | Fire | Nm-Bernardo Fire-6-18-2004 |
| 2000-05-13 | DR-1329 | Fire | Severe Forest Fire |
| 2000-05-10 | EM-3154 | Fire | Severe Fire Threats |
| 2000-04-20 | FM-2295 | Fire | Rio Grande Fire Complex |
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 Socorro County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 55 flood or flash flood records for Socorro County from 1996 to 2025, on 42 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Socorro County ranks 2046th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $435,000 on 23 claims filed in Socorro County; the most in one year was 3 in 1999. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1999: 3 · 2002: 1 · 2004: 1 · 2009: 1 · 2012: 1 · 2013: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 3 · 2025: 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 Socorro County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Socorro County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $12.4 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 | $498K | 61 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $615K | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $9.4M | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $335K | 76 modeled event-days a year |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $56K | 8.4 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $489K | once in about 684 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $680K | once in about 172 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $50K | once in about 27 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Socorro 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 Socorro CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Socorro County's FEMA declarations (CSV)12 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis