Enter any address in Luna County, New Mexico to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms dominates Luna County's flood events. Over the past 30 years, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 30 flash flood events and 7 general flood events. Recent examples include flash flooding along Highway 180 northwest of Deming on July 2, 2025, and flash flooding east of Columbus on June 26, 2024.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that while claims are infrequent, properties in Zone X have experienced flooding. One claim in Zone X resulted in an average payout of $50,343 with an average water depth of 0.3 feet. Homeowners in areas prone to flash flooding, particularly those near burn scars or low-lying areas that can be impacted by slow-moving thunderstorms, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
9 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Luna County, New Mexico has recorded 37 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 30 flash floods and 7 river or area floods. The county has received 7 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1999–2020)
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 | Jul 23, 2013 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 26, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Fire Threats | Fire | May 5, 2000 |
| Severe Ice Storms, Flooding And Heavy Rains | Severe Storm | Jul 16, 1999 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 29, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 2, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 26, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 21, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 8, 2022 | 25.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 11, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 9, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 15, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 10, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 16, 2014 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 29, 2025
An upper high over the lower Mississippi Valley brought a deep southeast flow of moisture directly over New Mexico which resulted in severe thunderstorm winds, heavy rain and numerous reports of flash flooding around Luna, Sierra and Otero counties.
Flash Flood — Jul 2, 2025
South to southeast flow at the surface combined with weak southerly flow aloft ahead of a west coast trough brought plenty of moisture into the Borderland with slow storm motion. The heavy rain brought flash flooding to the recent Trout burn scar as well as along Highway 180 northwest of Deming. An isolated severe thunderstorm brought wind damage to the Truth or Consequences area.
Flash Flood — Jun 26, 2024
Modest monsoonal moisture was trapped under an upper high located right along the New Mexico-Mexico border region. A very slow moving thunderstorm developed along Highway 9 which caused flash flooding east of Columbus.
Flash Flood — Aug 21, 2022
Several days of heavy rain continued across southwest New Mexico as a slow moving mid and upper level trough helped produce widespread rain across the region with nearly 5 inches of rain reported near White Sands. As a result of the heavy rain, numerous reports of flash flooding were received.
Flash Flood — Aug 8, 2022
A deep east-southeast monsoon flow brought plenty of Gulf of Mexico moisture into the region. A weak surface low extended through southwest New Mexico which helped to fuel slow moving thunderstorms with heavy rain and flash flooding.
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 Luna 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 Luna 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.