Enter any address in Sandoval County, New Mexico to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Sandoval County. Between 2000 and 2020, NOAA data recorded 94 flash flood events and 4 general flood events. Recent events include flash flooding from monsoon moisture in July 2025, which washed out culverts and diverted water into mobile home parks, and in August 2025, when slow-moving thunderstorms in the Jemez Mountains caused flash flooding and washed out roads.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A and Zone X have experienced flooding. Zone A properties had an average of 0.5 feet of water depth with an average payout of $5,563. Zone X properties, however, experienced significantly deeper water, averaging 13.3 feet with an average payout of $14,532. Homeowners in Zone A, Zone X, and those in areas with unknown flood risk should pay close attention to flood potential.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
64 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Sandoval County, New Mexico has recorded 98 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 94 flash floods and 4 river or area floods. The county has received 21 federal disaster declarations, 4 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1973–2022)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfires, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Mudflows, And Debris Flows | Fire | Apr 5, 2022 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| El Cajete Fire | Fire | Jun 15, 2017 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 27, 2014 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides | Flood | Sep 9, 2013 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 23, 2013 |
| Flooding | Flood | Jun 22, 2012 |
| Romero Fire | Fire | Jun 20, 2012 |
| Flooding | Flood | Aug 19, 2011 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 24, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 21, 2025 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 16, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 3, 2025 | 0.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Sep 5, 2024 | 20.00K |
| Flood | Apr 12, 2023 | 1.00M |
| Flash Flood | Jul 30, 2022 | 15.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 22, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 22, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 11, 2022 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Aug 24, 2025
Higher monsoon moisture moved across northern New Mexico on August 24th. This resulted in a better coverage of shower and thunderstorm activity across the northern mountains. Slow moving thunderstorms in the Jemez Mountains resulted in some flash flooding and washed out roads near State Route 4 and 126.
Flash Flood — Jul 21, 2025
A new multi-day plume of monsoon moisture advected northward into New Mexico between an upper level trough over the southern Baja Peninsula and an upper high over the south-central CONUS. Daily rounds of afternoon thunderstorms producing heavy rain developing over the mountains of New Mexico before moving over surrounding lower elevations through the evening resulted in several events of flash ...
Flash Flood — Sep 16, 2025
Monsoon moisture returned to southern, eastern, and much of central New Mexico on September 16th. This higher moisture combined with disturbances rotating around the southern periphery of an upper low over the northern and central Rocky Mountains resulted in the development of showers and thunderstorms during the midday hours across these portions of the state. A thunderstorm produced a wet mic...
Flash Flood — Jul 3, 2025
Another burst of abundant monsoon moisture resulted in localized heavy rainfall July 2nd and overnight into July 3rd. Burn scar flash flooding off the Salt burn scar washed out culverts that then diverted water into the Cherokee Mobile home park near Ruidoso. A late night round of strong thunderstorms developing along middle Rio Grande Valley produced very heavy rainfall measuring 1 to near 2.5...
Flash Flood — Sep 5, 2024
A shortwave trough moved south from Colorado over New Mexico on September 5th. This combined with upslope surface flow from a backdoor front resulted in the development of showers and storms over the northern mountains moving south and east across lower elevations during the afternoon and evening hours. These showers and storms resulted in some flash flooding over the HPCC burn scar and at Band...
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 Sandoval 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 Sandoval 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.