Enter any address in Lea County, New Mexico to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Lea County. Over the past 30 years, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 88 flash flood events compared to 5 general flood events. For example, significant flash flooding occurred in September 2024 due to repeated rounds of moderate to heavy rainfall within a tropical airmass. In May 2024, damaging winds, flash flooding, and large hail were reported with severe thunderstorms that merged into an MCS.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have the highest number of claims at 97, with an average payout of $4,478 and an average water depth of 1.1 feet. Properties in Zone X, though fewer in number with 8 claims, show a significantly higher average payout of $14,616, with an average water depth of 0.8 feet. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X, as well as those in areas with unknown flood risk, should pay the most attention to flood preparedness.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
19 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Lea County, New Mexico has recorded 93 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 88 flash floods and 5 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 (1992–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Sep 15, 2014 |
| Southeast New Mexico Fire Complex | Fire | Jan 1, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Fire Threats | Fire | May 5, 2000 |
| Thunderstorms, Hail & Flooding | Flood | May 22, 1992 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 29, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 3, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 31, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 16, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 2, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 2, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 25, 2018 | 8.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 23, 2017 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 30, 2016 | 0.50K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 28, 2016 | 1.00K |
Flash Flood — May 29, 2025
A disturbance in the quasi-zonal/northwesterly flow aloft, a dryline, and a cold front moving across the northern Permian Basin allowed for the development of scattered thunderstorms across Southeast New Mexico and West Texas. Thunderstorm coverage continued to increase into the afternoon and evening, and a number of storms became severe. The strongest storm of the day was in Dawson and Howard ...
Flood — Jul 3, 2025
Anomalously high moisture associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Barry encouraged the development of tropical downpours across West Texas and Southeast New Mexico. These downpours resulted in Flash Flooding for portions of the area.
Flash Flood — May 31, 2024
Afternoon severe thunderstorms would develop across eastern New Mexico and merge into an MCS that would track through portions of southeast New Mexico and the Permian Basin late in the evening. An outflow boundary from other thunderstorms would also initiate a few supercells ahead of the MCS. Damaging winds, flash flooding, and large hail were all reported with these thunderstorms.
Flash Flood — May 16, 2024
A positively tilted shortwave trough lifting out of the Four Corners and a stalled cold front over the Permian Basin aided in afternoon thunderstorm development. Numerous thunderstorms formed along and north of the cold front and became an intense squall line with damaging winds.
Flash Flood — Sep 2, 2024
A slow-moving upper-level low pressure over a stationary frontal boundary helped to generate widespread showers and thunderstorms across the region. Repeated rounds of moderate to heavy rainfall within a tropical airmass caused significant flash flooding across many Permian Basin and Southeast New Mexico areas.
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 Lea 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 Lea 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.