San Miguel County

Every recorded tornado

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

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 (128), 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.

More event types since 1996

Costliest events since 1996

1. May 1, 2022Wildfire, East Slopes Sangre De Cristo Mountains$100 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   The Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fire continued to devastate the area as it grew significantly during the month of May. The wildfire at the end of April was at 103,908 acres, but continued strong winds across the area throughout the month of May allowed the wildfire to spread rapidly. Within the first three days of May, the fire grew over 40,000 acres to a total of 145,854 acres with only 20% containment. During this time, the fire pushed northward toward Mora and northwest toward Las Tusas and Sapello. It also pushed towards Las Vegas, prompting evacuation orders for the western side of the city. By May 16, the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire grew to 298,060 acres, officially…

2. Apr 19, 2022Wildfire, East Slopes Sangre De Cristo Mountains$25.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   While daily rounds of widespread high fire danger persisted across northern and central New Mexico throughout the month of April, conditions were primed for rapid wildfire growth. The Calf Canyon Fire was sparked on April 19, 2022, near Gallinas Canyon. The wildfire experienced its most rapid growth on April 22nd as a historic and catastrophic fire weather pattern developed across New Mexico. With several hours of widespread 60 to 80 mph wind gusts, the Calf Canyon Fire exploded. This prompted the National Weather Service Albuquerque Office to issue a rare Fire Weather Warning for mandatory evacuations across western San Miguel and Mora counties. By the morning of April 23rd, it…

3. May 1, 2022Wildfire, East Slopes Sangre De Cristo Mountains$11.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   The Cooks Peak Fire started on April 17, 2022 on private land north of Ocate. As a persistent windy pattern continued through the month of April, the fire grew rapidly to 59,063 acres. At the start of the month of May, Philmont Scout Ranch Back Country west of New Mexico State Road 21 in Colax County were given mandatory evacuation orders while in Mora County, residents of Los LeFebres, Los Huerros, and residents east of County Road 009 and north of New Mexico Highway 120 were also given evacuation orders. Firefighters were able to make significant progress on the Cooks Peak Fire during the early part of May. By May 3rd, the wildfire was 59,359 acres with 72 percent containment.…

4. Apr 6, 2022Wildfire, East Slopes Sangre De Cristo Mountains$10.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   On April 6, 2022, a prescribed burn was started 12 miles northwest of Las Vegas, but due to windy conditions in place, the fire soon got out of control and spread rapidly. By April 13th, the Hermits Peak Fire grew to 7,900 acres with 10 percent containment. On April 22nd, the wildfire experienced rapid growth as a historic and catastrophic fire weather pattern developed across New Mexico. Despite 91 percent containment, the wildfire experienced rapid growth and combined with the nearby Calf Canyon Fire. Together, these two wildfires burned over 42,000 acres. As very windy conditions persisted through the remainder of April, the Hermits Peak Fire continued to spread rapidly, and by…

5. Jul 21, 2022Flash Flood$2.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Training thunderstorms across the southern portion of the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon burn scar in San Miguel County produced an estimated 2 to 4 inches of rainfall within the Tecolote Creek and Gallinas Creek areas which caused significant and catastropic flash flooding. Flash flooding and debris flow washed out many roadways within the area, rendering them impassable. The camp director at the Camp Blue Haven said that their playground was underwater for about 40 minutes until water receded. At 2:40 PM MDT, the chief of the Cabo Lucero Volunteer Fire Department received a call about a vehicle floating within the flood waters. When officials responded to the floating vehicle,…

6. Apr 19, 2025Heavy Snow, Central Highlands$1.5 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   A trained spotter at the Bowlins Flying C Ranch Gas Station observed between 8.5 to 9 inches of snowfall. According to the Torrance County Sheriff's Office, I-40 was closed from Clines Corners to Moriarty from 4/19/2025 15:00 to 22:00 local standard time. This was due to slick road conditions and low visibility from snow resulting in 5 separate crashes involving around 15 vehicles. The crashes involved mostly semitrucks and a few RVs and passenger vehicles. Thankfully, drivers and passengers only suffered minor injuries.

7. May 30, 2000Wildfire$1.2 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   The Viveash Mesa Fire in northwest San Miguel County began May 30 from unknown causes and quickly spread in hot and dry conditions to consume nearly 30,000 acres of wildland forest. Several ranch buildings were lost to this fire in remote area of the Carson National Forest. The fire briefly threatened the watersheds providing municipal water for the city of Las Vegas, NM. Containment costs exceeded one million dollars.

8. Sep 13, 2013Flood$1.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Major flooding observed along Gallina Creek near Las Vegas. Evacuations ordered for areas along the river from Montezuma east to Las Vegas. A major breach occurred on the Storrie Lake Diversion Channel. An estimated one year supply of water storage was lost for drinking water due to the breach. A Red Cross shelter was established at Robertson High School. An elderly couple was rescued overnight by the National Guard from the Pine Camp area. NM 283 was closed west of Las Vegas. A sink hole was reported near the South Diversion River Crossing Catwalk with damage to waste water components. A couple of homes and numerous vehicles and roadways were damaged. A bridge on CR-A1 near…

9. Jun 21, 2024Flash Flood$1.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Flash flooding from heavy rains closed NM Highway 65 from mile markers 2 to 4 or one mile south of Montezuma where culverts were washed out. Flowing water 1 to 3 feet deep also reported over El Llano Road, Cinder Road, Palo Verde Road and at the intersection of 7th Street and Mills Avenue. Road closures were also reported along State Road 65 at Campus and El Camino, as well as along 8th Street north of Mills Avenue. Robertson Cardinal football field was completely covered in standing water. The Las Vegas Water Treatment Plant also flooded. A mandatory evacuation order was issued at 9:54pm MDT for this area due to the dangerous flooding across Las Vegas to Montezuma. Damage is an…

10. Jan 15, 2018Winter Weather, Northeast Highlands$1.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    A vehicle traveling northbound on Interstate 25 crashed into a divider in the center of the highway near mile marker 340. A semi truck jack knifed attempting to avoid the crash and caused a chain reaction that resulted in a 20 car pileup. Two motorists were killed in separate vehicles and numerous injures were reported. The two fatalities were identified as 52-year old Nathaniel Gerry Hurwitz of Albuquerque, New Mexico and 35-year old David Franklin Halward of Scotts Valley, California. The interstate was closed down for more than 12 hours. Damage amounts are estimated for 20 vehicles, including the contents of several semi trucks.

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

100°FJul 18, 2023

All-time low

−26°FJan 12, 1963

Warmest night

69°FJul 20, 2011

Coldest day

−4°FFeb 2, 2011

Wettest day

3.56 inAug 11, 1961

Snowiest day

25.0 inMar 15, 1946

Hottest year

2000mean 53.0°F

Coldest year

1944mean 47.5°F

Wettest year

194128.21 in

Driest year

19565.41 in

Snowiest season

95.6 in1957-58

Station Las Vegas Municipal Airport (USW00023054), 6,870 ft elevation, 11.0 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1940 to October 26, 2026; 98.7% 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.

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 USW00023054.
• 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.