Enter any address in Bernalillo County, New Mexico to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Bernalillo County. Between 1993 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 97 flash flood events, resulting in 11 fatalities. For instance, on June 2, 2025, flash flooding in an east-central Albuquerque arroyo channel led to a fatality. Another event on July 12, 2025, saw severe thunderstorms develop across the region.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A experienced the highest number of claims (75) with an average payout of $7,674 and an average water depth of 2.4 feet. Properties in Zone X also saw significant payouts, averaging $8,233 for 27 claims, with an average water depth of 1.5 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, and those in Zone X, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
52 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Bernalillo County, New Mexico has recorded 97 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 97 flash floods. The county has received 11 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (2000–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Dog Head Fire | Fire | Jun 14, 2016 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 23, 2013 |
| White Fire | Fire | Apr 3, 2011 |
| Malpais Fire | Fire | Jun 15, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 2, 2004 |
| Bosque Fire-06-25-2003 | Fire | Jun 25, 2003 |
| Severe Fire Threats | Fire | May 5, 2000 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Sep 28, 2025 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 28, 2025 | 25.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 23, 2025 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 12, 2025 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 4, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 3, 2025 | 0.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Jun 2, 2025 | 0.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Jun 29, 2024 | 2.00M |
| Flash Flood | Jul 20, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 9, 2024 | 0.00K (1 deaths) |
Flash Flood — Sep 28, 2025
A troughing pattern from the Pacific brought in a late season monsoon burst of moisture to the Desert Southwest. Strong to severe thunderstorms developed over portions of the state with more locally heavy rainfall events occurring from the abundant monsoon moisture. Flash flooding was observed in several locations ranging from near El Malpais south of Grants, NM, in Navajo Nation west of Crownp...
Flash Flood — Jul 23, 2025
A new multi-day plume of monsoon moisture advected northward into New Mexico between an upper level trough over the southern Baja Peninsula and an upper high over the south-central CONUS. Daily rounds of afternoon thunderstorms producing heavy rain developing over the mountains of New Mexico before moving over surrounding lower elevations through the evening resulted in several events of flash ...
Flash Flood — Jul 12, 2025
The monsoon high that was over the state the earlier in the week, moved west over western Arizona and southern California on July 10th in response to an upper level trough moving across the northern and central Rockies. This resulted in the development of severe thunderstorms across the northeast and east central plains ahead of the trough axis during the afternoon and evening hours. Additional...
Flash Flood — Jun 4, 2025
An upper low moved across the desert southwest June 1st into June 2nd helping to pull up higher moisture from former Tropical Storm Alvin in the eastern Pacific. Widespread showers and storms developed across New Mexico during the day June 2nd as the upper low moved into the state. Storms resulted in severe wind gusts in Clovis, penny size hail and flash flooding in Albuquerque and Farmington. ...
Flash Flood — Jul 3, 2025
Another burst of abundant monsoon moisture resulted in localized heavy rainfall July 2nd and overnight into July 3rd. Burn scar flash flooding off the Salt burn scar washed out culverts that then diverted water into the Cherokee Mobile home park near Ruidoso. A late night round of strong thunderstorms developing along middle Rio Grande Valley produced very heavy rainfall measuring 1 to near 2.5...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Bernalillo County, New Mexico:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Bernalillo County, New Mexico that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.