Colfax County, NM Environment & Hazard Risk

• WildfireRelatively Moderate$5.7M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 184 years
• LightningRelatively High$639K/yr expected annual loss, about 68 events a year
• Winter weatherRelatively High$182K/yr expected annual loss, about 20 events a year
• LandslideRelatively Low$5,845/yr expected annual loss, about 1.9 events a year
• HailRelatively Low$112K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.3 events a year
• DroughtRelatively Low$39.9K/yr expected annual loss, about 163 events a year
• AvalancheVery Low$126/yr expected annual loss, about once every 30 years
• EarthquakeVery Low$71.6K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1,282 years
• Cold waveRelatively Low$220K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3 years
• Heat waveVery Low$35.1K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 26 years
• Strong windRelatively Low$92K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 6 years
• TornadoVery Low$99.5K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• Ice stormVery Low$939/yr expected annual loss, about once every 67 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, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

21 of 7,809 (0.3%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

210

Insured in high-risk zones

14 (7%)

Flood claims since 1978

8

Claims paid since 1978

$13K

• Hail260
• Drought226
• High Wind165
• Heavy Snow123
• Thunderstorm Wind52
• Flash Flood35 · 1 death
• Winter Storm22
• Wildfire16
• Tornado15
• Funnel Cloud12

• Wildfire05/01/2022

  East Slopes Sangre De Cristo Mountains

  3 injured, $100M damage

  What happened

  The Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fire continued to devastate the area as it grew significantly during the month of May. The wildfire at the end of April was at 103,908 acres, but continued strong winds across the area throughout the month of May allowed the wildfire to spread rapidly. Within the first three days of May, the fire grew over 40,000 acres to a total of 145,854 acres with only 20% containment. During this time, the fire pushed northward toward Mora and northwest toward Las Tusas and Sapello. It also pushed towards Las Vegas, prompting evacuation orders for the western side of the city. By May 16, the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire grew to 298,060 acres, officially surpassing the 2012 Whitewater-Baldy Fire and becoming the largest wildfire in New Mexico State history. By the end of the month, the wildfire burned 315,627 acres with 50% containment. Official numbers for homes and structures destroyed are still unknown, but on May 17th, the San Miguel County Sherrif reported that at least 340 homes had been destroyed with 275 other structures lost as well. Damages are estimated.

• Wildfire04/19/2022

  East Slopes Sangre De Cristo Mountains

  $25M damage

  What happened

  While daily rounds of widespread high fire danger persisted across northern and central New Mexico throughout the month of April, conditions were primed for rapid wildfire growth. The Calf Canyon Fire was sparked on April 19, 2022, near Gallinas Canyon. The wildfire experienced its most rapid growth on April 22nd as a historic and catastrophic fire weather pattern developed across New Mexico. With several hours of widespread 60 to 80 mph wind gusts, the Calf Canyon Fire exploded. This prompted the National Weather Service Albuquerque Office to issue a rare Fire Weather Warning for mandatory evacuations across western San Miguel and Mora counties. By the morning of April 23rd, it was reported that the Calf Canyon Fire had merged with the nearby Hermits Peak Fire, and together, these two fires had burned more than 42,000 acres. A week later, on April 29th, yet another widespread dangerous wind event caused the Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak fires to continue to rapidly spread. This prompted another set of mandatory evacuations across western San Miguel County and the issuance of another rare Fire Weather Warning. By the end of the month of April 30th, the Calf Canyon and Hermits...

• Wildfire05/01/2022

  East Slopes Sangre De Cristo Mountains

  10 injured, $11M damage

  What happened

  The Cooks Peak Fire started on April 17, 2022 on private land north of Ocate. As a persistent windy pattern continued through the month of April, the fire grew rapidly to 59,063 acres. At the start of the month of May, Philmont Scout Ranch Back Country west of New Mexico State Road 21 in Colax County were given mandatory evacuation orders while in Mora County, residents of Los LeFebres, Los Huerros, and residents east of County Road 009 and north of New Mexico Highway 120 were also given evacuation orders. Firefighters were able to make significant progress on the Cooks Peak Fire during the early part of May. By May 3rd, the wildfire was 59,359 acres with 72 percent containment. By May 13th, the wildfire was 100 percent contained with that same acreage. A total of four buildings were destroyed by the Cooks Peak Fire. Ten injuries were reported from firefighting efforts. Damage estimates were received from the State of New Mexico.

• Flash Flood06/27/2015

  Eagle Nest, Colfax County

  1 death, 3 injured, $50K damage

  What happened

  New Mexico Department of Transportation closed US Highway 64 as heavy rain caused debris, boulders and a mud slide to cover several miles of the road. Philmont Scout Ranch also reported major flash flooding on the Ponil Creek basin that ran through a boy scout camp site in the nearby mountains. The flooding washed away 4 boys, killing 1.

• Lightning05/22/2014

  Cimarron, Colfax County

  1 death, 1 injured

  What happened

  State police reported that a man was struck by lightning and killed while riding his motorcycle along U.S. Highway 84 just west of Cimarron at mile post 308 Friday afternoon.

• Wildfire04/06/2022

  East Slopes Sangre De Cristo Mountains

  $10M damage

  What happened

  On April 6, 2022, a prescribed burn was started 12 miles northwest of Las Vegas, but due to windy conditions in place, the fire soon got out of control and spread rapidly. By April 13th, the Hermits Peak Fire grew to 7,900 acres with 10 percent containment. On April 22nd, the wildfire experienced rapid growth as a historic and catastrophic fire weather pattern developed across New Mexico. Despite 91 percent containment, the wildfire experienced rapid growth and combined with the nearby Calf Canyon Fire. Together, these two wildfires burned over 42,000 acres. As very windy conditions persisted through the remainder of April, the Hermits Peak Fire continued to spread rapidly, and by the end of the month on April 30th, the combined acreage between it and the Calf Canyon Fire was 103,908 acres with now 30 percent containment. Currently, the wildfire may not be fully contained until July 2022. Seven outbuildings were destroyed by this wildfire with an additional 600 structures threatened. Mandatory evacuations were not ordered. Damages are estimated.

• City of Raton/Raton Water WorksServes 9,733 · Surface water · Local government5 health violations
• Village of Angel FireServes 6,045 · Groundwater · Local government10 health violations+45 monitoring or reporting
• Philmont Boy Scout Ranch - HeadquartersServes 2,000 · Surface water · Private18 health violations+9 monitoring or reporting
• Cimarron Water SystemServes 1,260 · Surface water · Local government21 health violations+26 monitoring or reporting
• Springer Water SystemServes 1,170 · Surface water · Local government24 health violations+50 monitoring or reporting
• Village of Eagle NestServes 613 · Groundwater · Local government2 health violations+5 monitoring or reporting
• Maxwell Water SystemServes 340 · Groundwater · Local government9 health violations+12 monitoring or reporting
• Maxwell Cooperative Water Users AssocServes 261 · Groundwater · Private3 health violations+2 monitoring or reporting