Enter any address in McKinley County, New Mexico to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms dominates McKinley County's flood events. Between 2000 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 62 flash flood events, resulting in 12 fatalities. For example, flash flooding occurred in Navajo Nation west of Crownpoint in September 2025, and across parts of the state, including areas near burn scars, in August 2022.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A experienced an average payout of $3,588 with an average water depth of 0.4 feet. While most claims in other zones resulted in no payout and minimal water depth, these figures suggest that properties designated as Zone A may be more susceptible to flood damage. Homeowners in Zone A, or those with properties located in areas prone to heavy rainfall and rapid water runoff, should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
38 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
McKinley County, New Mexico has recorded 63 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 62 flash floods and 1 river or area floods. The county has received 11 federal disaster declarations, 5 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1972–2020)
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 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Jul 25, 2010 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 26, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Fire Threats | Fire | May 5, 2000 |
| Severe Forest Fire | Fire | May 5, 2000 |
| Severe Storms & Flooding | Flood | Jan 5, 1993 |
| Severe Storms, Snow Melt & Flooding | Flood | May 11, 1973 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Sep 28, 2025 | 0.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Sep 27, 2025 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 29, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 29, 2022 | 25.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 27, 2022 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 25, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 16, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 16, 2022 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 4, 2022 | 25.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 25, 2019 | 0.00K |
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 — Sep 27, 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 29, 2022
An abundant amount of moisture in the atmosphere led to another very active monsoon day for northern and central New Mexico on July 29, 2022. Thunderstorms developed early in the day across the high terrain areas before becoming more widespread as the day progressed. Heavy rain was common with these thunderstorms, especially on the Calf Canyon burn scar which reported more burn scar flash flood...
Flash Flood — Jul 27, 2022
As an area of high pressure remained to the east of New Mexico, an abundant amount of moisture also stayed in place across the desert southwest on July 27, 2022. This led to yet another very active monsoon day across much of northern and central New Mexico. Thunderstorms developed early in the day and wasted no time in impacted the Calf Canyon burn scar. The northern portion of the burn scar wa...
Flash Flood — Jul 25, 2022
An active moonsoon pattern continued across New Mexico on July 25, 2022, as a steady stream of moisture stayed in place over western and central New Mexico. Additionally, an easterly wave over northern Mexico that was trapped underneath the high pressure centered over the lower Mississippi Valley. An abundant amount of moisture in addition to this easterly wave resulted in robust thunderstorms ...
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 McKinley 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 McKinley 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.