Chaves County

Every recorded tornado

1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Chaves County: 0.
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.

Every storm within 100 miles

1. Tropical storms and hurricanes (34 kt or more, still tropical) at closest approach. Post-tropical remnants with gale-force winds are listed but not counted. Direct: track within 50 miles; near: within 100 miles. Distance is measured to the county boundary for counties and to the city centre for cities, using positions interpolated hourly between HURDAT2 fixes.

National Hurricane Center HURDAT2, 1851 to 2025.

Every large fire

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

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.

Claims by ZIP code

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

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.

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.

Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles

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 county boundary (or inside the county).
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.

Volcanoes within 100 miles

1. U.S. volcanoes within 100 miles, from the USGS Volcano Hazards Program. The threat category is the USGS 2018 National Volcanic Threat Assessment, which ranks volcanoes by how hazardous their past eruptions were and how many people and how much infrastructure lie near them. It is not a forecast of eruption.

USGS Volcano Hazards Program, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Mapped landslides

Mapped by USGS Conterminous (60).

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.

More event types since 1996

Costliest events since 1996

1. Oct 19, 2024Flash Flood$500 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Historically bad flash flooding across Roswell, reported by numerous emergency officials and the public. Thunderstorms training over Roswell dumped an all-time one-day rainfall record of 5.78 at the Roswell Airport with numerous other public weather stations across town ranging from 4 to 9 inches. Major flooding was reported across the city and nearby low-lying areas south and west of town. Numerous vehicles were submerged in over 4 feet of water while several more were swept away. The Roswell Daily Record reported that as many as 500 rescues were carried out over the weekend during and after the flooding. Estimates have as many as 400 homes and 200 businesses facing significant…

2. Dec 26, 2015Blizzard, Chaves County Plains$100 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Heavy snow and high winds paralyzed the entire county through the 31st. A peak wind gust to 60 mph was reported at Bitter Lake and Elkins. Numerous motorists were stranded including rescue vehicles with the National Guard. Snowfall amounts of 10 to 20 inches were reported across the county. The Roswell Industrial Airpark broke their all-time one day total snowfall record with 12.4 inches dating back to 1946. Drifts of 6 to 10 feet were common. Numerous power outages were reported across the county. At least four commercial roof collapses were reported, including a Diamond Shamrock gas station and a Hondo dealership. A fire was reported at Coca-Cola. The National Guard assisted…

3. Dec 26, 2015Blizzard, Southwest Chaves County$100 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Heavy snow and high winds paralyzed much of southwest Chaves County through the 30th. Snowfall amounts of 12 to 15 inches were reported along with drifts of 3 to 4 feet. The 15.0 inches at Elk was the 2nd highest 1-day total snowfall on record dating back to 1895. All roads were closed across this area.

4. Oct 19, 2024Flash Flood$10.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   The NM Department of Transportation reported river flooding along the Rio Felix south of Roswell overtopping and damaging the U.S. Highway 285 bridge, and overtopping the NM State Highway 2 bridge just north of Hagerman closing both bridges. Flooding from heavy rains and poor drainage also extended over much of Dexter just north of Hagerman. Damage is an estimate. A Flood Warning was issued and repeatedly extended until local reports of the water receding came from local Emergency Management.

5. Mar 13, 2019High Wind, Chaves County Plains$2.5 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   The Roswell airport reported peak wind gusts up to 68 mph for several hours. U.S. 285 was closed in Roswell due to a semi trailer rollover. Significant blowing dust resulted in near zero visibility along NM-2. Carports and other light weight structures were damaged across the Roswell area. A hangar at the Roswell airport for SCEYE Inc. was completely destroyed resulting in damage totaling two million dollars.

6. Dec 21, 1997Winter Storm, Chaves County Plains$2.5 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   A series of heavy snow events produced totals of 15 to 30 inches across eastern and central New Mexico just before Christmas. Periods of light snow actually began about the 20th and then intensified during the 22nd through the 25th as tropical moisture began to feed a large, nearly stationary upper level low over southwest New Mexico. Heaviest snow was centered over Chaves, Lincoln, De Baca, Guadalupe, San Miguel, Quay and Torrance Counties. Roswell and Chaves County were especially hard hit where heavy wet snow pulled down power lines, trees, numerous small sheds, plus porch and driveway coverings. Numerous roads and highways across eastern New Mexico including sections of…

7. Mar 12, 2019Tornado$2.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Just before 6 pm MDT on Tuesday, March 12, 2019, a tornado touched down in Chaves County, about 15 miles south southwest of Dexter. The tornado moved north northeast for approximately 15 minutes before dissipating about one half mile northeast of the community of Dexter. Six people suffered minor injuries, and six homes were substantially damaged or completely destroyed. An additional dozen homes and structures also sustained minor to moderate damage. This was the first March tornado documented in Chaves County since 1959, and the earliest known EF1 or stronger tornado in the state of New Mexico. The last EF2 tornado in New Mexico occurred on May 23, 2012. Damage amounts are a…

8. May 30, 2021Flash Flood$1.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Multiple trained spotters reported flash flooding along U.S. Highway 285 near Midway with an estimated three to four feet of water over the roadway. Several people were stranded along the highway and were waiting on top of their vehicles to be rescued. Several water rescues had to be conducted at U.S. Highway 285 and Orchard Park Road. Multiple homes were inundated as well with flood waters, and one woman had to be rescued via a kayak. No injuries were reported. The extent of the damages is unknown, and damages are roughly estimated for the multiple businesses, homes, and vehicles inundated with flood waters.

9. May 31, 2021Flash Flood$750,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Thunderstorms producing heavy rain resulted in major flash flooding across southern Roswell and southern Chaves County. Heavy rainfall had fallen in the area the previous evening, and an additional 3 to 5 inches of rain during the morning of May 31st exacerbated the flash flooding. Numerous locations along U.S. Highway 285 from Lake Arthur northward into Roswell had upwards of 2 feet of water along the travel corridor while low water crossings had upwards of 4 feet of water which overfilled the banks. Multiple reports of flooding across fields, ditches, yards, and vehicles were reported. Several side roads were unpassable and had to be barricaded. A breached arroyo near the…

10. Aug 17, 1997Thunderstorm Wind$750,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    A late night thunderstorm developed over southern Chaves county and then moved north just east of Roswell producing golfball size hail and a brief but intense microburst just northeast of the city. Four trailer homes and several small barns were overturned or destroyed during 5 to 10 minutes of winds estimated at 70 to 80 mph. Four other mobile homes, plus 5 brick and frame homes suffered damage to south and east facing patio covers and roof edges. Hail and flying debris damaged a number of cars and trucks. One 26 year old female was trapped for about 40 minutes in an overturned trailer, but escaped with only minor injuries. The extensive debris from the trailers and the late…

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.

All-time high

114°FJun 27, 1994

All-time low

−19°FJan 11, 1962

Warmest night

82°FJun 30, 1957

Coldest day

9°FJan 12, 1963

Wettest day

5.78 inOct 19, 2024

Snowiest day

12.4 inDec 27, 2015

Hottest year

2024mean 65.8°F

Coldest year

1997mean 59.1°F

Wettest year

198624.80 in

Driest year

20032.90 in

Snowiest season

32.6 in1987-88

Station Roswell Ind Air Pk (USW00023009), 3,624 ft elevation, 4.1 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1946 to October 26, 2026; 99.9% 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.

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.

Neighbouring counties

• 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 USW00023009.
• 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.
• Volcanoes USGS Volcano Hazards Program, U.S. volcanoes and 2018 threat assessment.
• 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.