Enter any address in Chaves County, New Mexico to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood hazard in Chaves County. Between 1993 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 60 flash flood events and 17 general flood events. Recent flash flooding events include those on August 31, 2025, which caused flooding on Walnut Arroyo near Lake Arthur, and on July 30, 2025, where slow-moving thunderstorms led to flash flooding on burn scars near Ruidoso.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $52,955 and an average water depth of 6.5 feet. Properties in Zone X have also seen significant claims, with a higher average payout of $89,903 despite a lower average water depth of 4.9 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, and those in Zone X who have experienced substantial payouts, should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
56 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Chaves County, New Mexico has recorded 77 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 60 flash floods and 17 river or area floods. The county has received 9 federal disaster declarations, 3 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1997–2025)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides | Flood | Jun 23, 2025 |
| Severe Storm And Flooding | Flood | Oct 19, 2024 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides | Flood | Sep 9, 2013 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Fire Threats | Fire | May 5, 2000 |
| Severe Forest Fire | Fire | May 5, 2000 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Dec 22, 1997 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 31, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 30, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 28, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 22, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 8, 2025 | 30.00K |
| Flood | Aug 31, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Oct 20, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 19, 2024 | 10.00M |
| Flash Flood | Oct 19, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 19, 2024 | 500.00M (2 deaths) |
Flash Flood — Aug 31, 2025
A backdoor front pushing south through eastern New Mexico resulted in the development of showers and thunderstorms across this part of the state during the evening and overnight hours on August 30th into August 31st. 2 to 3 inches of rain from thunderstorms during the early morning hours of August 31st resulted in flash flooding on the normally dry Walnut Arroyo just south of Lake Arthur. Flood...
Flash Flood — Jul 30, 2025
A disturbance rotating north around the upper high circulation centered over south central U.S. followed by a backdoor front entering eastern New Mexico in the middle of the week increased monsoon moisture and shower and thunderstorm coverage across the state. Daily slow moving thunderstorms on the Ruidoso burn scars during the afternoon hours resulted in several occurrences flash flooding on a...
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 — Jun 22, 2025
An early season plume of monsoon moisture advected northward into New Mexico from June 22nd through the 24th bringing several days of flash flooding and severe weather across portions of northern and central NM. June 22nd in particular saw severe thunderstorms produce numerous severe wind gusts of 60 mph or stronger across eastern NM from Roswell to Nara Visa with reports of downed utility pole...
Flash Flood — Oct 8, 2025
A backdoor front moved into eastern NM on October 6th. This front along with southeast return flow resulted in some isolated strong to severe storms across east central NM during the evening hours with one storm producing nickel size hail near Puerto de Luna. The front and higher moisture behind it pushed through the gaps of the central mountain chain into central New Mexico late October 6th in...
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 Chaves 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 Chaves 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.