Cibola County, NM Environment & Hazard Risk

• LightningRelatively High$769K/yr expected annual loss, about 61 events a year
• LandslideRelatively Low$15.1K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.2 events a year
• WildfireRelatively Low$332K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 832 years
• Winter weatherRelatively Moderate$113K/yr expected annual loss, about 15 events a year
• EarthquakeRelatively Low$475K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 328 years
• Volcanic activityVery Low$54/yr expected annual loss, about once every 5,000 years
• Cold waveRelatively Low$996K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 19 years
• DroughtVery Low$7,530/yr expected annual loss, about 78 events a year
• AvalancheVery Low$35/yr expected annual loss, about once every 100 years
• Heat waveVery Low$45.1K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• HailVery Low$41.5K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 6 years
• TornadoVery Low$30.8K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 9 years
• Ice stormVery Low$2,252/yr expected annual loss, about once every 67 years
• Strong windVery Low$27.2K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 9 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, hurricane, riverine flooding, tsunami.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

62 of 10,511 (0.6%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

828

Insured in high-risk zones

59 (7%)

Flood claims since 1978

28

Claims paid since 1978

$611K

• Drought181
• High Wind101
• Flash Flood37
• Heavy Snow33 · 1 death
• Hail28
• Winter Weather12
• Thunderstorm Wind10
• Wildfire8
• Funnel Cloud6
• Dust Storm6

• Dust Storm06/19/2024

  Middle Rio Grande Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area

  51 injured, $100K damage

  What happened

  Strong outflow winds from thunderstorms along the central mountain chain resulted in a haboob moving west across Interstate 25. The lower visibility resulted in a 23 car pile up and the resultant closure of Interstate 25 between San Felipe casino and Santo Domingo Pueblo. News reports showed 51 people were taken to the hospital.

• Heavy Snow02/02/2022

  Middle Rio Grande Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area

  1 death, 3 injured

  What happened

  Numerous sources reported heavy snow across the Albuquerque metro area. Snow totals varied across the city with the highest totals located in the northern half of the metro where a CoCoRaHS observer in Rio Rancho measured 7.5 inches of snow. At the official climate site at the Albuquerque International Airport, the snow total for this event was 1.6 inches. This snow combined with dangerously cold temperatures resulted in treacherous road conditions. The Albuquerque Police Department responded to 51 vehicle accidents during this event with three of those involving injuries. One indirect fatality also resulted from this event. A Rio Grande High School senior was struck by an out-of-control pickup truck in Los Lunas as he was helping a woman whose car had gotten stuck in the ice and snow. The 18-year-old male was pronounced dead at the scene.

• Wildfire06/21/2025

  Middle Rio Grande Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area

  $4M damage

  What happened

  The Cotton fire was discovered in the afternoon of 6/21 while the Cotton II was discovered on the morning of 6/22 and determined to be human caused. Both quickly became combined into the Desert Willow Complex Fire on 6/22 burning in the bosque area on both sides of the Rio Grande north and south of Main Street Bridge in Los Lunas. Unfortunately, 11 structures were destroyed with 9 of them homes, and 4 other structures were damaged. Media reported 12 firefighters were treated for smoke and heat injuries while two firefighters were hospitalized. Evacuations were ordered for residences in the area, ending by the 23rd. The Cotton fire burned 95 acres while the Cotton II fire burned 145 acres, totaling 237 acres for the entire complex. Damage is an estimate based on the number of homes and structures destroyed.

• Wildfire04/11/2022

  Middle Rio Grande Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area

  1 injured, $2M damage

  What happened

  With a dangerous fire weather pattern in place across all of northern and central New Mexico due to exceptionally dry conditions and very strong winds, the stage was set for fires to spread quickly. On April 11, 2022, a human-caused wildfire was started northeast of Belen. The Big Hole Fire spread quickly to 890 acres by April 15th with 60 percent containment, and the wildfire was finally 100 percent contained on April 25th. One home was destroyed while eighteen outbuildings were also destroyed, but over one hundred other residences were threatened due to its close proximity to Belen. One firefighter was injured while responding. Damages are estimated.

• Wildfire04/28/2025

  West Central Highlands

  2 injured, $500K damage

  What happened

  The Balsam Wildfire was discovered during a very dry and critical fire weather event on the evening of April 27th, in Grants, NM. Fire crews were able to keep the fire to just 3 to 5 acres, but it unfortunately burned through a residential area. The Grants Fire Chief reported 7 structures were impacted with 2 firemen injured. Damage is an estimate.

• Wildfire04/17/2025

  Middle Rio Grande Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area

  $1M damage

  What happened

  The Valencia County emergency management confirmed a wildfire burning within the bosque along the west side of the Rio Grande on Bureau of Indian Affairs land during the afternoon of April 17th. Strong and very dry southwesterly winds creating critical fire weather conditions allowed the fire to jump the Rio Grande River and into Bosque Farms just south of the Valencia and Bernalillo County line. Evacuations were ordered in Bosque Farms between Truchas Trail and Cottonwood Drive west of West Bosque Loop. The fire caused major damage to three homes with two of those being destroyed. There are no reports of injuries or fatalities. Damage is an estimate based on number of homes destroyed.

• Grants Domestic Water SystemServes 10,523 · Groundwater · Local government4 health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Milan Community Water SystemServes 2,560 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation+1 monitoring or reporting
• San Rafael Water & Sanitation DistrictServes 1,060 · Groundwater · Local government9 health violations+17 monitoring or reporting
• Bluewater Water and Sanitation DistrictServes 492 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+5 monitoring or reporting
• Bluewater Acres WuaServes 331 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Bibo Mutual Domestic Water AssocServes 241 · Groundwater · Local government13 health violations+12 monitoring or reporting
• Seboyeta Water SystemServes 209 · Groundwater · Local government6 health violations+11 monitoring or reporting
• San Mateo MdwcaServes 182 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation+8 monitoring or reporting