Cibola County

Every recorded tornado

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

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 (79).

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. Jun 21, 2025Wildfire, Middle Rio Grande Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area$4.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   The Cotton fire was discovered in the afternoon of 6/21 while the Cotton II was discovered on the morning of 6/22 and determined to be human caused. Both quickly became combined into the Desert Willow Complex Fire on 6/22 burning in the bosque area on both sides of the Rio Grande north and south of Main Street Bridge in Los Lunas. Unfortunately, 11 structures were destroyed with 9 of them homes, and 4 other structures were damaged. Media reported 12 firefighters were treated for smoke and heat injuries while two firefighters were hospitalized. Evacuations were ordered for residences in the area, ending by the 23rd. The Cotton fire burned 95 acres while the Cotton II fire burned…

2. Apr 11, 2022Wildfire, Middle Rio Grande Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area$2.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   With a dangerous fire weather pattern in place across all of northern and central New Mexico due to exceptionally dry conditions and very strong winds, the stage was set for fires to spread quickly. On April 11, 2022, a human-caused wildfire was started northeast of Belen. The Big Hole Fire spread quickly to 890 acres by April 15th with 60 percent containment, and the wildfire was finally 100 percent contained on April 25th. One home was destroyed while eighteen outbuildings were also destroyed, but over one hundred other residences were threatened due to its close proximity to Belen. One firefighter was injured while responding. Damages are estimated.

3. Apr 17, 2025Wildfire, Middle Rio Grande Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area$1.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   The Valencia County emergency management confirmed a wildfire burning within the bosque along the west side of the Rio Grande on Bureau of Indian Affairs land during the afternoon of April 17th. Strong and very dry southwesterly winds creating critical fire weather conditions allowed the fire to jump the Rio Grande River and into Bosque Farms just south of the Valencia and Bernalillo County line. Evacuations were ordered in Bosque Farms between Truchas Trail and Cottonwood Drive west of West Bosque Loop. The fire caused major damage to three homes with two of those being destroyed. There are no reports of injuries or fatalities. Damage is an estimate based on number of homes destroyed.

4. Sep 13, 2013Flood$500,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Areal flooding developed after flash flooding with continued heavy rainfall. Twenty five to 30 homes were partially under water around Bluewater Village. Milan endangered by flooding with 4 residents displaced to shelter. The Grants West Centurlink box was flooded and cell phone services were temporarily out in the area. CR 23A closed due to high water. A total of 50 structures were damaged from this multi-day event.

5. Apr 27, 2025Wildfire, West Central Highlands$500,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   The Balsam Wildfire was discovered during a very dry and critical fire weather event on the evening of April 27th, in Grants, NM. Fire crews were able to keep the fire to just 3 to 5 acres, but it unfortunately burned through a residential area. The Grants Fire Chief reported 7 structures were impacted with 2 firemen injured. Damage is an estimate.

6. Dec 1, 2011High Wind, West Central Highlands$400,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Two commercial buildings, one home and two motels sustained roof damage from high winds around Grants. In addition, one business sustained minor roof damage in Milan. Numerous trees were toppled and limbs were blown down.

7. Sep 12, 2013Flood$250,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   State EOC Situation Report #6 indicated heavy rainfall produced flooding around many areas of Tohajiilee, including a school, homes, roads, and the fire department. One lane of Interstate 40 was closed due to a sink hole at the Tohajiilee exit. An ICP was set up to assist with flooding situation.

8. Oct 4, 2015Flash Flood$250,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Three bridges were damaged from flood waters northeast of Grants. A dozen jersey barriers were washed 100 yards downstream at low water crossings along Lobo Canyon. The most significant damage occurred to the George Hannish Bridge. Bridges along county roads 19A and 19D were also impacted.

9. Sep 8, 2020High Wind, Middle Rio Grande Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area$250,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   The Albuquerque Sunport measured damaging wind gusts between 58 mph and 71 mph for several hours as gap winds plowed through Tijeras Canyon. Dozens of large trees were toppled across the city, including; one tree along Girard just south of Gibson, one tree along Sunport Loop near the Sheraton hotel, at least one tree on the University of New Mexico campus, and other large trees at Roosevelt Park and Hyder Park. A large pine tree at Jefferson Middle School fell over power lines along Girard Blvd. Another large pine tree fell over power lines into Girard near Campus Blvd. Roofing was damaged at the city courthouse in downtown Albuquerque and another roof was damaged at a hotel near…

10. Jun 9, 2022Wildfire, West Central Highlands$250,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    The Cerro Bandera Fire began on June 9th on private land within the El Malpais National Monument. Dry and windy conditions allowed this fire to spread to 939 acres before it was contained on June 16th. Four structures, including one home, were destroyed. No other information was given. Damages are estimated.

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

104°FJun 22, 2015

All-time low

−27°FFeb 3, 2011

Warmest night

74°FJul 2, 1999

Coldest day

10°FFeb 2, 2011

Wettest day

2.40 inAug 7, 2006

Snowiest day

16.0 inJan 16, 1987

Hottest year

2025mean 55.0°F

Coldest year

1987mean 49.7°F

Wettest year

199015.93 in

Driest year

19955.07 in

Snowiest season

32.6 in1986-87

Station Cubero (USC00292250), 6,195 ft elevation, 17.1 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1977 to September 30, 2026; 99.0% 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 USC00292250.
• 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.