Enter any address in De Baca County, New Mexico to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from severe thunderstorms is the primary flood hazard in De Baca County. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 20 recorded flash flood events compared to 2 general flood events. For instance, flash flooding occurred across east central New Mexico on May 31, 2023, following a day of severe storms. Similarly, heavy rainfall led to flash flooding on April 26, 2025, as weather systems converged over the region.
Homeowners in areas prone to rapid water accumulation, particularly those located in zones with higher flood risk according to FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program, should be especially aware of these conditions.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
18 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
De Baca County, New Mexico has recorded 22 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 20 flash floods and 2 river or area floods. The county has received 7 federal disaster declarations, 1 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1997–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Apr 26, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 31, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 30, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 12, 2021 | 20.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 6, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 6, 2018 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 25, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 5, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 3, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 23, 2015 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Apr 26, 2025
A backdoor front pushed through northeast NM during the morning hours of April 25th stalling across east central NM midday. Additionally, a dryline backed west into the southeast plains of New Mexico. These surface boundaries allowed higher low level Gulf moisture. Daytime heating, combined with the higher moisture, lift from the aforementioned boundaries and an upper level shortwave overhead a...
Flash Flood — May 31, 2023
Sufficient lift ahead of an upper low over California and Arizona and Gulf moisture ahead of the dryline across eastern New Mexico allowed widespread showers and storms to initiate around midday. Several supercells produced large and severe hail along with two tornadoes in the central and south-central highlands of Guadalupe and Lincoln County. Later that evening, training supercells grew upsca...
Flood — Jun 30, 2021
A saturated and unstable atmosphere over New Mexico on June 30, 2021, led to several reports of flooding and flash flooding. Moisture from Tropical Storm Enrique in the eastern Pacific streamed northward into New Mexico and warmer daytime temperatures allowed for more instability. The result was a round of widespread showers and thunderstorms across northern and central New Mexico. Storm motion...
Flash Flood — Aug 12, 2021
A storm system over southeast New Mexico combined with an abundant amount of atmospheric moisture resulted in numerous thunderstorms across eastern New Mexico on August 12, 2021. Thunderstorms formed early in the afternoon across the high terrain, and steering flow tracked thunderstorms in a southerly to southwesterly direction. Steering flow was fast enough to limit a widespread flooding threa...
Flash Flood — Jul 6, 2021
The area of high pressure that had been centered over the Four Corners shifted slightly westward on July 6, 2021. Meanwhile, low level return flow continued which aided in keeping moisture values high across New Mexico. With sufficient instability and shear, another crop of thunderstorms developed first across the high terrain before becoming more widespread across lower elevations. With numero...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in De Baca 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 De Baca 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.