Farmington

Population 46,055 (2025)

9 tornadoes have tracked within 25 miles of Farmington since 1950, 0 of them rated EF3 or F3 or stronger; the most recent was on March 21, 2020.

Hazard fingerprint for Farmington Tornado: 5th percentile. Tropical: 0th percentile. Wildfire: 18th percentile. Flood: 8th percentile. Hail & wind: 3th percentile. Heat: 25th percentile. Cold: 28th percentile. Winter: 84th percentile. TORTROPFIREFLOODSEVEREHEATCOLDWINTER

Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed

2026
  • Tornado damage paths within 25 miles since 19509
  • Wildfire burn scars within 25 miles since 19841

At a glance

Tornado paths within 25 miles, tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles and wildfire perimeters within 25 miles of the city centre. Storm events, flood insurance claims and disaster declarations are for San Juan County. Earthquakes within 50 miles, volcanoes within 100 miles and smoke days are measured from the city centre; river and tide gauges, tsunami and landslide records and the drought index are for San Juan County.

Large wildfires within 25 mi

1

Largest: Well, 2004

Details

Flood insurance claims

48

San Juan County

$537,000 paid since 1979

Details

Tornadoes since 1950, within 25 mi

9

0 rated F3/EF3 or stronger

Details

Strongest tornado

F2

May 10, 1957, 0.1 mile path

Federal disaster declarations

12

Most recent: Severe Storms and Flooding, 2026

Details

Record high

106°F

July 10, 2021

Details

Record low

−20°F

January 13, 1963

Details

Costliest event since 1996

$3.0M

Thunderstorm Wind, August 21, 2024

Details

Tornadoes

About one every 8.4 years since 1950, none rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Strongest

May 10, 1957

F2, 0.1 mile path

10 yards wide.

Most recent

Saturday, March 21, 2020

EF0, 0.5 mile path

6 years ago.

Tornadoes by decade, within 25 miles Doppler radar era² 1950s: 1 1 1960s: 1 1 1970s: 0 1980s: 0 1990s: 2 2 2000s: 2 2 2010s: 2 2 2020s: 1 1 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 0 F: 0 M: 1 A: 0 M: 2 2 J: 1 J: 0 A: 1 S: 2 O: 2 N: 0 D: 0 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes within 25 miles since 1950
Mar 21, 2020EF00.54000
Jun 10, 2015EF00.22000
Sep 18, 2013EF00.12000
Oct 23, 2000F00.12000
Oct 23, 2000F00.12000
Aug 5, 1999F10.35000
Sep 28, 1990F00.21000
May 28, 1963F00.11000
May 10, 1957F20.11000
  1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond this area.
  2. Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.

Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

No tropical storm or hurricane has tracked within 100 miles since records began in 1851.

Wildfire and smoke

1 large fire burned within 25 miles since 1984.

Largest

August 29, 2004

Well Fire, 1,178 acres

17.5 miles from the city centre.

Most recent

August 29, 2004

Well Fire

1,178 acres in total.

Acres burned by large fires within 25 miles, cumulative 2004: 1,178 1,178 acres 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Running total of acres burned (line) and each year’s acres (bars).

Every large fire

Large wildfires since 1984
Well200417.51,178
  1. Large fires mapped by the Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity program since 1984: 1,000 acres or more in the West, 500 or more in the East. Prescribed burns are excluded. Acres here are the part of each perimeter inside this place.

Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (USGS and U.S. Forest Service), 1984 to 2026.

Smoke overhead

Smokiest year

2021: 24 days

Heavy smoke on 10 days in 2020, the most of any year.

Last 10 years

8.0 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

10 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 14 so far in 2026.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 4 2012: 1 2013: 4 2014: 0 2015: 1 2016: 1 2017: 4 2018: 8 2019: 2 2020: 22 2021: 24 24 2022: 4 2023: 2 2024: 3 2025: 10 201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Days each year on which a satellite-traced plume of medium or heavy smoke covered the city centre, 2011 to 2025.
  1. A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.

NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Floods and flood insurance

48 federal flood insurance claims since 1979, with $537,000 paid.

Flood insurance figures are for San Juan County, the county that contains Farmington.

Federal flood insurance claims by year 1986: 5 2010: 5 2013: 12 12 2015: 8 1986
Claims per year since 1979. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Most claims in one year

2013: 12 claims

$253,000 paid.

2nd most

2015: 8 claims

$210,000 paid.

3rd most

2010: 5 claims

$19,000 paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
8741019$407,000
874019$70,000
874027$16,000
874125$10,000

Flood events since 1996

  • Flash Flood54
  • Heavy Rain4
  • Flood2

2 deaths recorded in flood events since 1996.

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.

River crests

River gauges in San Juan County, the county that contains Farmington.

Most severe crest

October 6, 1911

Animas River at Farmington, 16.50 ft

6.50 feet above the 10.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.

Most recent moderate or major crest

July 27, 1957

San Juan River at Farmington, 11.30 ft

Moderate flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage
Oct 6, 1911Animas River at Farmington16.50+6.50Major
Jun 29, 1927Animas River at Farmington14.30+4.30Major
Sep 28, 1935San Juan River at Farmington11.80+3.30Moderate
May 13, 1941San Juan River at Farmington11.70+3.20Moderate
Jul 27, 1957San Juan River at Farmington11.30+2.80Moderate
May 14, 1941Animas River at Farmington11.00+1.00Minor
Aug 22, 1947Animas River at Farmington10.70+0.70Minor
Jun 19, 1949Animas River at Farmington10.70+0.70Minor
Sep 7, 1970Animas River at Farmington10.30+0.30Minor
Oct 20, 1972Animas River at Farmington10.15+0.15Minor
Jun 16, 2017San Juan River near Archuleta7.000.00Minor
May 25, 2005Animas River at Farmington9.98−0.02Action
Jun 9, 2011San Juan River near Archuleta6.93−0.07Action
May 29, 2008San Juan River near Archuleta6.89−0.11Action
Jun 8, 2009San Juan River near Archuleta6.85−0.15Action
May 18, 2005San Juan River near Archuleta6.77−0.23Action
Oct 4, 2006Animas River at Farmington9.76−0.24Action
Jun 9, 1997San Juan River near Archuleta6.71−0.29Action
Jun 10, 1985Animas River at Farmington9.68−0.32Action
May 23, 1979San Juan River near Archuleta6.67−0.33Action
May 30, 2001San Juan River near Archuleta6.65−0.35Action
Jun 8, 2006San Juan River near Archuleta6.61−0.39Action
Jun 12, 1980Animas River at Farmington9.61−0.39Action
Jun 5, 1995San Juan River near Archuleta6.60−0.40Action
May 22, 2005San Juan River at Farmington8.08−0.42Action

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
Animas River at Farmington10.016.50 ftOct 6, 19112
San Juan River at Farmington8.511.80 ftSep 28, 19350
San Juan River at Shiprock15.514.50 ftMay 25, 20050
San Juan River near Archuleta7.07.00 ftJun 16, 20170
  1. Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.

NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Drought

In severe drought or worse for 248 of 1,581 months since 1895 (16%); the longest spell lasted 33 months.

The drought index is for San Juan County, the county that contains Farmington.

248

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

117

Months in extreme drought

16%

Share of all months, severe or worse

456

Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996

Lowest reading

August 2026

−7.77, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

33 months

July 1900 to March 1903.

Latest month

September 2026

−4.79, extreme drought

Months in severe drought or worse, by year 1895: 0 1896: 3 1897: 0 1898: 0 1899: 0 1900: 6 1901: 12 12 1902: 12 1903: 4 1904: 11 1905: 0 1906: 0 1907: 0 1908: 0 1909: 0 1910: 5 1911: 0 1912: 0 1913: 0 1914: 0 1915: 0 1916: 0 1917: 2 1918: 6 1919: 0 1920: 0 1921: 0 1922: 1 1923: 0 1924: 0 1925: 0 1926: 0 1927: 0 1928: 0 1929: 0 1930: 0 1931: 0 1932: 0 1933: 0 1934: 9 1935: 0 1936: 0 1937: 0 1938: 0 1939: 0 1940: 0 1941: 0 1942: 0 1943: 0 1944: 0 1945: 0 1946: 2 1947: 1 1948: 0 1949: 0 1950: 9 1951: 10 1952: 0 1953: 0 1954: 0 1955: 0 1956: 5 1957: 0 1958: 0 1959: 4 1960: 2 1961: 0 1962: 1 1963: 0 1964: 0 1965: 0 1966: 0 1967: 2 1968: 0 1969: 0 1970: 0 1971: 1 1972: 6 1973: 0 1974: 3 1975: 0 1976: 4 1977: 11 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 0 1981: 1 1982: 0 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 0 1986: 0 1987: 0 1988: 0 1989: 4 1990: 4 1991: 0 1992: 0 1993: 0 1994: 1 1995: 0 1996: 6 1997: 0 1998: 0 1999: 0 2000: 1 2001: 0 2002: 9 2003: 6 2004: 1 2005: 0 2006: 4 2007: 0 2008: 0 2009: 3 2010: 0 2011: 0 2012: 8 2013: 5 2014: 7 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017: 0 2018: 10 2019: 0 2020: 8 2021: 12 2022: 5 2023: 0 2024: 0 2025: 12 18951905191519251935194519551965197519851995200520152025
Months each year with a Palmer index of −3 or lower, 1895 to 2025. Twelve means the whole year.
  1. The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.

NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.

Earthquakes and landslides

1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5 or more within 50 miles since 1995; none reached magnitude 4.

0

Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973

0

Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900

0

Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900

Largest within 50 miles

September 23, 1995

Magnitude 2.6

4 km E of Teec Nos Pos, Arizona; 48.7 miles away, 4.9 miles deep.

  1. Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more in the USGS Comprehensive Catalog since 1900. Within 50 miles means the epicentre lies within 50 miles of the city centre.
  2. Small earthquakes were under-recorded before the modern seismic networks of the 1970s and are still missed in remote areas, so early decades read low. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them and mix scales (moment, local and body-wave).

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, 1900 to present, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Mapped landslides

Landslides mapped in San Juan County.

216

Landslides mapped, probable or better

1

With a recorded date

3

Source inventories

Mapped by USGS Conterminous (214), AZ GS (1), NASA (1).

  1. Landslides mapped in the USGS compilation of landslide inventories across the United States (version 3.0, 2025), rated probable or better. The compilation joins inventories made by federal and state agencies for different purposes and areas, so the number mapped in a county reflects how closely it has been surveyed as much as how often its slopes fail. An area with few records may simply not have been mapped. Deaths are as recorded in the inventories; a slide listed in two inventories is counted once.

USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0, retrieved October 27, 2026.

Severe weather and other events

835 events in the National Weather Service record for San Juan County, 812 of them since 1996.

16

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

0

Hail, 2 inches or larger

47

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

158

Winter weather events since 1996

4

Heat events since 1996

5

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

August 2, 1965

1.75 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

August 26, 2015

104 mph

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996
Lightning512Aug 24, 2009
Dust storms and dust devils300Jul 28, 2022

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Aug 21, 2024Thunderstorm Wind$3.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    The Farmington Four Corners Regional Airport observed thunderstorm wind gusts peaking at 66 mph. These thunderstorm wind gusts produced thick blowing dust, power outages to 8,000 customers, and a down 69kV power line resulting in power outages around Aztec and surrounding areas. Power line damage cost is an estimate.

  2. Aug 1, 2010Flash Flood$2.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Significant flooding plagued the Farmington area during the evening hours of August 1st. More than 2.5 inches of rain fell in 3 hours, but most of the rain fell in about a 30 minute time frame. Some of the hardest hit areas are described in the following paragraphs. ||The Webb Chevrolet-Toyota dealership and neighboring businesses along East Main Street between Gila St. and Hannon Dr. was described as a swamp. Weeds and shrubs were wrapped around the tires of each truck as water, mud and debris flooded into the lot. The force of the water moved one truck about six feet, and moved a nearby dumpster approximately 100 yards. Also in this area, a man whose car got stuck at the…

  3. Aug 26, 2015Flash Flood$1.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    The Blanco Arroyo overflowed its banks and, combined with heavy rain across the area, led to significant flash flooding. Firefighters rescued a few individuals from the roofs of their homes, otherwise no major injuries or fatalities were reported. Several homes were reportedly shifted off their foundation and a propane tank at one of those homes was swept away in the flood waters. Multiple classrooms were damaged at three area schools, causing all schools to be closed on the 27th and one school, Lydia Rippey Elementary, to be closed on the 28th. The Aztec Municipal Golf Course at Hidden Valley was closed until further notice due to damages incurred from the flooding. A large rock…

  4. Aug 5, 2016Flash Flood$1.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Serious flash flooding developed on Salt Creek Wash and created major damage to a community near Mesa Farm Road. Three to four homes were severely damaged and one home was destroyed. Several vehicles, motorcycles, recreational vehicles washed into creek and destroyed. Water rescues occurred from roof tops and amazingly no one was killed.

  5. Jun 18, 2012Wildfire, Northwest Plateau$1.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    A wildfire along CR 1491 burned quickly out of control in the bosque along the San Juan River and consumed more than 350 acres, 5 homes, and 12 outbuildings.

  6. Aug 25, 2024Flash Flood$500,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Heavy runoff within the Baker Arroyo jumped out and flooded west and south, impacting U.S. Highway 64, Christ the King Catholic Church, the Central Consolidated School District and the Chat and Chew restaurant. At least two homes were destroyed or made uninhabitable. Damage cost is an estimate.

  7. Jun 21, 2024Flash Flood$500,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Multiple reports of flash flooding across Farmington including along the La Plata and San Juan Rivers, including vehicles driving across flooded low water crossings. A video from the emergency manager showed the La Plata River raging and partly out of its banks. These included along Southside River Road on the west side of Farmington. A vehicle was stuck in a ditch along the San Juan River, thankfully the driver made it out safely. There was an overflowing ditch and arroyo with fast moving water at Brookside Drive and Navajo Street. There was several inches of water moving across Crouch Mesa east of Farmington and south of Flora Vista. U.S. Highway 64 at Andrea Drive and between…

  8. Jun 15, 2014Wildfire, Northwest Plateau$500,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Incident management reported 14,712 acres consumed in the Chuska Mountains to the east of Crystal, New Mexico. At least 24 structures and 4 outbuildings were destroyed.

  9. Aug 26, 2015Thunderstorm Wind$350,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Significant damage reported on a property near Flora Vista likely the result of intense microburst winds. The winds downed over 100 very large cottonwood trees, including a few that were completely uprooted. The tops of a few trees were completely snapped off, as well. Metal roofing on a barn was torn off and horizontally displaced about 20 yards on nearby power poles. The falling timber along with the wind itself caused damage to a barn roof, a pop up camper, a canoe, a trampoline, and a camper. Based on the EF-toolkit winds from this storm may have reached as high as 104 mph. No injuries or further damages resulted from the microburst.

  10. May 16, 2021Wildfire, Northwest Plateau$300,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    A grass fire started on Road 5211 near U.S. Highway 64 between Bloomfield and Lee Acres on the evening of May 16th. The fire spread quickly and engulfed a family home with a detached garage. The residence was completely destroyed, and the three family dogs that were inside at the time tragically died. There was also reported damage to an additional outbuilding. The fire prompted an evacuation of the area, but residents were permitted to return late on May 16th. By the morning of May 17th, the fire was 5 percent contained, but no longer posed a threat to any other structures. Damages are estimated for the loss of the residence as well as damages to the outbuilding.

  1. Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.

NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.

Weather records

From Farmington Four Corners Regional A, 2.8 miles from the city centre, with records from 1948.

All-time high
106°FJul 10, 2021
All-time low
−20°FJan 13, 1963
Warmest night
79°FJul 16, 2007
Coldest day
6°FDec 12, 1961
Wettest day
1.75 inJul 8, 2006
Snowiest day
11.0 inDec 10, 1961
Hottest year
2024mean 55.5°F
Coldest year
1948mean 50.5°F
Wettest year
195713.74 in
Driest year
20203.37 in
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Farmington Four Corners Regional A 32°F 44° 19° 0.6 Jan 50° 23° 0.6 Feb 60° 30° 0.6 Mar 68° 35° 0.5 Apr 78° 43° 0.4 May 90° 53° 0.3 Jun 94° 62° 0.6 Jul 91° 60° 0.8 Aug 83° 51° 1.0 Sep 69° 39° 0.9 Oct 56° 27° 0.5 Nov 44° 20° 0.6 Dec Precipitation, inches
Average daily high and low by month, and average monthly precipitation, over the last 30 years.
Days reaching 95°F per year 1998: 18 1999: 6 2000: 31 2001: 20 2002: 44 2003: 37 2004: 27 2005: 40 2006: 26 2007: 37 2008: 24 2009: 29 2010: 19 2011: 38 2012: 26 2013: 29 2014: 18 2015: 16 2016: 29 2017: 23 2018: 27 2019: 45 2020: 54 54 2021: 40 2022: 32 2023: 43 2024: 41 2025: 32 199820082018
Days reaching 95°F each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 30.4.

Station Farmington Four Corners Regional A (USW00023090), 5,499 ft elevation, 2.8 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1948 to October 27, 2026; 95.7% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.

NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.

Federal disaster declarations

12 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Storms and Flooding, October 26, 2026.

Declarations for San Juan County.

Federal disaster declarations
Oct 26, 2026FloodSevere Storms and FloodingEmergencyEM-3660-NM
Jun 20, 2024FireSouth Fork Fire, Salt Fire, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4795-NM
Apr 5, 2020BiologicalCovid-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4529-NM
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCovid-19EmergencyEM-3460-NM
Oct 29, 2013FloodSevere Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4152-NM
Jun 18, 2012FireBlanco (Cr 4901) FireFire managementFM-2981-NM
Sep 13, 2010FloodSevere Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1936-NM
Sep 7, 2005HurricaneHurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3229-NM
May 13, 2000FireSevere Forest FireMajor disasterDR-1329-NM
May 10, 2000FireSevere Fire ThreatsEmergencyEM-3154-NM
Sep 22, 1999Severe StormSevere Ice Storms, Flooding and Heavy RainsMajor disasterDR-1301-NM
Mar 2, 1977DroughtDroughtEmergencyEM-3034-NM

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.

Sources and vintage

Every number on this page comes from these public records.

  • Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
  • Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
  • Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
  • Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
  • Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
  • Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USW00023090.
  • River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
  • Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Landslides USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0 (2025).
  • Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.

Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.