Enter any address in Torrance County, New Mexico to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Torrance County. Between 1994 and 2024, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 27 flash flood events and 1 flood event. Recent examples include flash flooding on June 19, 2024, associated with monsoon moisture, and on June 29, 2024, which produced burn scar flash flooding and debris flows in nearby areas.
While most properties in Torrance County are not in high-risk flood zones, National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone X_Unshaded have experienced flooding. One claim in this zone resulted in an average payout of $4,797 for an average water depth of 1.0 foot. Homeowners in areas identified as Zone X_Unshaded, or those located in low-lying areas or near arroyos that could experience flash flooding, should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
16 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Torrance County, New Mexico has recorded 28 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 27 flash floods and 1 river or area floods. The county has received 14 federal disaster declarations, 2 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1985–2023)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Echo Ridge Fire, Nm Fmag | Fire | Apr 2, 2023 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Dog Head Fire | Fire | Jun 14, 2016 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides | Flood | Sep 9, 2013 |
| Big Springs Fire | Fire | Jun 25, 2008 |
| Trigo Fire | Fire | Apr 21, 2008 |
| Ojo Peak Fire | Fire | Nov 18, 2007 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 26, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 9, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 29, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 19, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 19, 2024 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 8, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 6, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 25, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 3, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 4, 2021 | 250.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 31, 2017 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 9, 2025
Daytime heating combined with higher moisture east of a dryline and upper level northwest flow across the northern and central Rockies and Great Plains resulted in the development of severe storms with large hail across Colfax, Union and far northeast Harding Counties during the late afternoon and evening hours before exiting into West Texas after midnight. A more potent shortwave at the base o...
Flash Flood — Jun 29, 2024
A burst of record level monsoonal moisture flowed into NM coupled with a backdoor frontal boundary moving through eastern NM. This yielded scattered to numerous afternoon thunderstorms developing over the high terrain of central and western NM on June 29th. One batch developed directly over the new South Fork burn scar along the Lincoln and Otero County line just west of Ruidoso. This storm exp...
Flash Flood — Jun 19, 2024
A burst of monsoon moisture surged into eastern NM the morning of June 19th and surged through the gaps of the central mountain chain bringing high wind gusts of up to 58 miles per hour to parts of the Albuquerque metro that afternoon and evening. The strong east canyon wind during the evening resulted in a downed tree in the northeast heights of Albuquerque. The monsoon moisture surged through...
Flash Flood — Aug 8, 2024
A backdoor front pushed through northern and eastern NM during the morning of August 8th, settling along the east slopes of the central mountain chain. This front replenished monsoon moisture across this part of the state. Showers and storms developed across the northern and central mountains midday spreading to surrounding lower elevations later in the day. Heavy rainfall from storms resulted ...
Flash Flood — Jun 6, 2023
An upper-level low off the coast of California helped funnel in subtropical moisture into the state resulting in the development of widespread showers and storms across central and eastern New Mexico June 5th and 6th. Reports of severe weather and flash flooding stretched from the Rio Grande Valley across portions of eastern NM on June 5th. These reports ranged from a landspout tornado near the...
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 Torrance 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 Torrance 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.