Lea County, NM Environment & Hazard Risk

• WildfireRelatively High$9.9M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 80 years
• HailRelatively High$2.1M/yr expected annual loss, about 2.6 events a year
• LightningRelatively High$999K/yr expected annual loss, about 48 events a year
• Winter weatherRelatively High$294K/yr expected annual loss, about 6.4 events a year
• DroughtRelatively Moderate$993K/yr expected annual loss, about 115 events a year
• Strong windRelatively Moderate$1.1M/yr expected annual loss, about 1.0 events a year
• Cold waveRelatively Moderate$2.5M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• Heat waveRelatively Low$1M/yr expected annual loss, about 3.5 events a year
• Ice stormRelatively Moderate$123K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• TornadoRelatively Low$1.1M/yr expected annual loss, about 1.3 events a year
• HurricaneVery Low$21.8K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 117 years
• EarthquakeVery Low$52K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2,976 years
• LandslideVery Low$1/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3 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: avalanche, coastal flooding, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

715 of 25,998 (2.8%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

2,870

Insured in high-risk zones

692 (24%)

Flood claims since 1978

208

Claims paid since 1978

$931K

• Hail383
• Thunderstorm Wind216
• High Wind115
• Flash Flood93
• Heavy Snow25
• Tornado15
• Drought14
• Winter Weather13
• Ice Storm10
• Funnel Cloud8

• Hail2.5" hail05/28/1997

  Hobbs, Lea County

  $27M damage

  What happened

  This storm moving to the southeast became an HP Supercell as it passed over the city of Hobbs. By the time the storm arrived over the southern parts of town, hail up to tennis ball size was falling along with strong winds. Most of the trees over the southern 1/3 of town were stripped of their leaves, and numerous houses and cars suffered damage. Streets had hail stacked up over one foot deep in some areas. This storm moved to the southeast into Texas and continued to produce severe weather in Andrews, Winkler, and Ward Counties.

• Lightning08/08/1996

  Lovington, Lea County

  2 deaths

  What happened

  Two employees of Lea County Co-op Electric were killed by lightning while attempting to repair lines that had been disabled during a previous storm. Since there were no witnesses of the incident it was first thought the two men had been electrocuted by the lines on which they were working, however, a subsequent investigation ruled out this possibility. People in the area noted a couple of close lightning strikes, and with other evidence, it was surmised that the two were lightning strike victims.

• Drought12/01/1998

  Lea

  $12M damage

  What happened

  The devastating drought continued into the Winter with little precipitation reported around the region in December. The estimated damage totals are for calendar year 1998.

• Wildfire01/01/2006

  Central Lea County

  3 injured, $710K damage

  What happened

  Record high temperatures (in the mid to upper 70s), very low relative humidities, high winds, and two and a half months without measurable precipitation combined to produce a very active fire weather day. SPC issued a critical fire weather area for west Texas and southeastern New Mexico in their Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook issued early on January 1st. A grass fire driven by wind burned 50,000 acres west of Hobbs on New Year's Day. The western side of Hobbs had to be evacuated, including the community college, a casino, and several neighborhoods. Three firefighters sustained minor injuries, but no one was seriously injured. Four families were provided shelter by the Red Cross, though eleven homes were destroyed. Two businesses and 10 vehicles also were destroyed by the fire. In addition to the wildfire west of Hobbs, two fires burned near Tatum in northern Lea county. No structures were damaged in these fires, however, U.S. Highway 380 was closed from Roswell to the Texas state line during the day because of the fires. According to local authorities, one fire near Tatum was caused by fireworks and the other was sparked by a car crash.

• Hail2.5" hail09/18/2016

  Jal, Lea County

  $3.5M damage

  What happened

  A thunderstorm moved across Lea County and produced tennis ball sized hail in Jal. The hail caused widespread damage to homes and vehicles. The cost of damage is a rough estimate.

• Thunderstorm Wind87 kt wind06/01/2024

  Tatum Lea Co Arpt, Lea County

  $2M damage

  What happened

  Media replayed a report of a wind turbine fire north of Tatum. This is likely the result of severe wind gusts. Time is estimated from radar. Wind speeds and property damage costs are estimations.

• Hobbs Municipal Water SupplyServes 40,418 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Lovington Municipal Water SupplyServes 13,539 · Groundwater · Local government8 health violations+10 monitoring or reporting
• Jal Water Supply SystemServes 5,500 · Groundwater · Local government5 health violations+4 monitoring or reporting
• Eunice Water Supply SystemServes 4,487 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Tatum Municipal Water SystemServes 948 · Groundwater · Local government2 health violations+13 monitoring or reporting
• Monument MdwcaServes 279 · Groundwater · Local government2 health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Adobe VillageServes 83 · Groundwater · Private1 health violation+4 monitoring or reporting
• Mescalero Ridge Water Co-OpServes 76 · Purchased groundwater · Local government6 health violations+3 monitoring or reporting