Chaves County, NM Environment & Hazard Risk

• DroughtRelatively High$5.33M/yr expected annual loss, about 144 events a year
• Strong windRelatively High$2.33M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• Winter weatherRelatively High$401K/yr expected annual loss, about 5.8 events a year
• WildfireRelatively Moderate$1.5M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 368 years
• Heat waveRelatively Moderate$2.21M/yr expected annual loss, about 4.5 events a year
• LightningRelatively High$753K/yr expected annual loss, about 51 events a year
• Ice stormRelatively High$448K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• HailRelatively Low$353K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.5 events a year
• Volcanic activityVery Low$14/yr expected annual loss, about once every 10,000 years
• HurricaneVery Low$20.25K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 100 years
• Cold waveRelatively Low$380K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 6 years
• EarthquakeVery Low$62.39K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3,195 years
• LandslideVery Low$167/yr expected annual loss, about 1.0 events a year
• TornadoVery Low$182K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.0 events a year
• AvalancheVery Low$1/yr expected annual loss, about once every 100 years

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: coastal flooding, riverine flooding, tsunami.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

282 of 25,124 (1.1%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

1,107

Insured in high-risk zones

227 (21%)

Flood claims since 1978

132

Claims paid since 1978

$8.38M

• Hail225
• Drought126
• Thunderstorm Wind106 · 1 death
• High Wind75
• Flash Flood61 · 6 deaths
• Tornado25
• Dust Storm21 · 1 death
• Flood18
• Heavy Snow15
• Funnel Cloud12

• Flash Flood10/20/2024

  Roswell, Chaves County

  2 deaths, $500M damage

  What happened

  Historically bad flash flooding across Roswell, reported by numerous emergency officials and the public. Thunderstorms training over Roswell dumped an all-time one-day rainfall record of 5.78 at the Roswell Airport with numerous other public weather stations across town ranging from 4 to 9 inches. Major flooding was reported across the city and nearby low-lying areas south and west of town. Numerous vehicles were submerged in over 4 feet of water while several more were swept away. The Roswell Daily Record reported that as many as 500 rescues were carried out over the weekend during and after the flooding. Estimates have as many as 400 homes and 200 businesses facing significant damage. The Roswell Convention Center was hosting a UFO festival when flood waters up to 5 feet entered the building. Attendees were being rescued from the rooftop. Roswell's Spring River Zoo also suffered extensive damage including the loss of one donkey. Flood damage was also sustained to Roswell's Landfill and Wastewater Treatment Plant. All roads entering the city were closed by State Police. The city lost 4 fire trucks and 7 police patrol cars with numerous city facilities damaged. There is one...

• Flash Flood07/15/1996

  Lake Arthur, Chaves County

  4 deaths

  What happened

  A woman and three children drowned when the car they were riding was swept off the pavement into Walnut Creek. The normally dry creek was running 4 feet deep over a dip in the road following heavy rain of 2 to 4 inches on the watershed 12 to 18 miles to the west. Rain had ended about 3 PM. Water began to fill the Spence Road low water crossing around 530PM. The vehicle entered the water at dark or about 9PM. The 48 year old male driver of the vehicle was rescued by other motorists.

• Dust Storm02/27/2024

  Chaves County Plains

  1 death, 3 injured, $500K damage

  What happened

  Reports from the Dexter Fire Chief, Chaves County Emergency Manager and County Sheriff showed multiple multi-vehicle crashes between Roswell and Hagerman during this time. The relief route between West McGaffey Street and Sunset Place on the southwest side of Roswell was closed due to near zero visibility at 10:25 MST. A two vehicle crash was reported at 13:35 at Shuswap Road and Old Dexter Highway between Dexter and Hagerman from near zero visibility in blowing dust. A multi-vehicle crash involving seven vehicles was reported at Orchard Park Road and U.S. Highway 285 at 14:30 MST from low visibility in blowing dust. Additional cars became involved by 14:40 MST. Two passengers were trapped in a vehicle fire with one fatality. Responders reported they did not see the vehicle fire initially due to the brownout conditions. At 15:30 MST, another crash involving three vehicles was reported at Wilshire Boulevard and Main Street in Roswell from low visibility in blowing dust. The emergency manager also reported Roswell schools closed 12:00 MST.

• Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/15/2011

  Dexter, Chaves County

  1 death, $15K damage

  What happened

  The roof of a barn collapsed and killed an elderly man.

• Flash Flood10/20/2024

  Hagerman, Chaves County

  $10M damage

  What happened

  The NM Department of Transportation reported river flooding along the Rio Felix south of Roswell overtopping and damaging the U.S. Highway 285 bridge, and overtopping the NM State Highway 2 bridge just north of Hagerman closing both bridges. Flooding from heavy rains and poor drainage also extended over much of Dexter just north of Hagerman. Damage is an estimate. A Flood Warning was issued and repeatedly extended until local reports of the water receding came from local Emergency Management.

• TornadoEF2, 15.19 mi path, 350 yd wide03/12/2019

  Lake Arthur, Chaves County

  6 injured, $2M damage

  What happened

  Just before 6 pm MDT on Tuesday, March 12, 2019, a tornado touched down in Chaves County, about 15 miles south southwest of Dexter. The tornado moved north northeast for approximately 15 minutes before dissipating about one half mile northeast of the community of Dexter. Six people suffered minor injuries, and six homes were substantially damaged or completely destroyed. An additional dozen homes and structures also sustained minor to moderate damage. This was the first March tornado documented in Chaves County since 1959, and the earliest known EF1 or stronger tornado in the state of New Mexico. The last EF2 tornado in New Mexico occurred on May 23, 2012. Damage amounts are a rough estimate.

• Flash Flood07/19/2026

  Roswell, Chaves County

• Thunderstorm Wind56 kt wind06/26/2026

  (Row)roswell Ind Airport, Chaves County

• Flood06/04/2026

  Hagerman, Chaves County

• Drought06/01/2026

  Chaves County Plains

• Drought06/01/2026

  Southwest Chaves County

• Drought05/01/2026

  Southwest Chaves County

• Drought05/01/2026

  Chaves County Plains

• High Wind58 kt wind04/26/2026

  Southwest Chaves County

• Roswell Municipal Water SystemServes 54,025 · Groundwater · Local government2 health violations+4 monitoring or reporting
• Berrendo Cooperative WuaServes 4,304 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Dexter Municipal Water SystemServes 1,554 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Hagerman Water SystemServes 1,248 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+3 monitoring or reporting
• Cumberland Cooperative WuaServes 588 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Fambrough MdwcaServes 439 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Lake Arthur Water DepartmentServes 374 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Roswell Correctional CenterServes 280 · Groundwater · State2 health violations+17 monitoring or reporting