Santa Fe County, NM Environment & Hazard Risk
Relatively Moderate natural hazard risk, led by wildfire. 1,038 storm events since 1996.
- Expected yearly loss
- $48.95M
- Relatively Low nationally
- Storm events since 1996
- 1,038
- Most often drought
- Flood insurance policies
- 388
- 0.6% of homes
- Hurricanes nearby
- 0
- Since 1851
Natural hazard risk
FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Overall risk
Relatively Moderate
Score 86.0 of 100
Social vulnerability
Relatively High
Score 63.3 of 100
Community resilience
Relatively Low
Score 33.7 of 100
Community resilience runs the other way: a higher rating means a community can recover faster.
Building value exposed: $34.68B · Agriculture value exposed: $32.74M · Risk-adjusted yearly loss: $61.86M
Risk by hazard
- WildfireRelatively High$12.6M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 413 years
- Winter weatherRelatively High$500K/yr expected annual loss, about 16 events a year
- LightningRelatively High$1.33M/yr expected annual loss, about 68 events a year
- EarthquakeRelatively Low$4.12M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 443 years
- DroughtRelatively Moderate$1.08M/yr expected annual loss, about 103 events a year
- HailRelatively Low$415K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.0 events a year
- LandslideRelatively Low$3,522/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
- Heat waveRelatively Low$355K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
- Cold waveRelatively Low$734K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 8 years
- AvalancheVery Low$64/yr expected annual loss, about once every 100 years
- Strong windRelatively Low$203K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4 years
- TornadoVery Low$288K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 7 years
- Ice stormVery Low$11.91K/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.
Flood risk and insurance
National Flood Insurance Program and FEMA flood maps
Check the flood zone for an address
- Homes with flood insurance
- 388 of 67,925 (0.6%)
- Homes in high-risk flood zones
- 609
- Insured in high-risk zones
- 106 (17%)
- Flood claims since 1978
- 53
- Claims paid since 1978
- $958K
Flood claims paid per year
Storm history
Since 1996: 1,038 events, 12 deaths, $13.1M in damage
- Drought314
- High Wind223
- Heavy Snow141 · 2 deaths
- Hail139
- Flash Flood93 · 4 deaths
- Thunderstorm Wind49
- Lightning11 · 2 deaths
- Tornado11
- Winter Weather10 · 4 deaths
- Winter Storm9
Events per year
27 tornadoes on record (EF0 11, F0 12, F1 4).
Most damaging storms
Since 1996, ranked by deaths, injuries and damage
- Heavy Snow02/02/2022
Sandia/Manzano Mountains Including Edgewood
2 deaths
What happened
Various sources measured heavy snow totals in excess of six inches across the area. The highest snow totals were near Sandia Park where a CoCoRaHS observer measured 16.4 inches of snow while areas near Sedillo and Edgewood received 10 to 12 inches of new snow. The heavy snow resulted in snow packed and icy roads which lead to severe driving conditions in the area. Several motor vehicle accidents were reported, but one of these crashes resulted in two indirect fatalities. Two people inside of a car traveling near Sandia Crest fell nearly 100 feet down the side of the mountain. One was declared dead at the scene while the other was rescued and transported to the hospital, but they later succumbed to their injuries.
- Winter Weather11/07/2024
Santa Fe Metro Area
2 deaths
What happened
Heavy snow up to a foot caused power outages from San Ildefonso to Gallisteo and Santa Fe. State government offices were shutdown on November 7th. Unfortunately the cold resulted in two fatalities, one on the morning of the 7th and another on the morning of the 8th in Santa Fe. An unidentified male in his 50s was found Thursday outside Freedom Church on Cerrillos Road and Vegas Verdes Drive. Cody Lee Morales, 28, was found Friday morning near Cesar Chaves Elementary School on Jaguar Drive. The two deaths were determined to be from exposure to the cold, temperatures fell into the 20s each night.
- Lightning08/03/1997
Santa Fe, Santa Fe County
1 death, 2 injured
What happened
A 41 year old man hiking near the summit of Santa Fe Baldy (12600 ft) was killed by lightning. The man's 12 year old son and another hiker were knocked down by the lightning but only slightly injured.
- Winter Storm03/24/2021
Estancia Valley
11 injured, $700K damage
What happened
The combination of heavy snow and strong winds resulted in severe driving conditions along Interstate 40 east of Moriarty for several hours on March 24. The poor conditions led to a major accident involving multiple vehicles 10 miles east of Moriarty along Interstate 40. Thirty-nine vehicles were involved of which thirty-five were tractor trailers. As a result, Interstate 40 was closed into the morning hours of March 25th. Eleven people were injured, but no fatalities occurred. Damages are estimated for the multiple vehicles involved.
- Winter Weather12/04/2025
Central Highlands
1 death, 1 injured, $250K damage
What happened
Local news station KOB reported a deadly semi-truck crash along I-40 just east of Clines Corners. The semi-truck lost control and rolled over with another semi-truck crashing into it, with two other trucks crashing into them. The first semi-truck is likely the one that caught fire and became engulfed in flames. There was unfortunately one fatality reported while another was taken to the hospital. Damage is an estimate of the four crashed trucks.
- Winter Weather01/26/2022
Santa Fe Metro Area
1 death, 1 injured
What happened
Snow across the Santa Fe area resulted in snow packed and icy roadways that made for difficult driving conditions. In the early Wednesday morning hours near San Ildefonso Pueblo, two vehicles were involved in an automobile accident. Law enforcement responded to the crash near the intersection of New Mexico State Road 30 and New Mexico State Road 502. A man in one vehicle crossed the eastbound lane, striking a woman's vehicle which was traveling in the opposite direction. The man was pronounced dead at the scene while the woman was transported to a hospital. The condition of the woman is unknown.
Latest storm reports
Newest first
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/09/2026
(Saf)santa Fe Muni Airport, Santa Fe County
- High Wind52 kt wind06/29/2026
Central Highlands
- Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind06/26/2026
La Cienega, Santa Fe County
- Thunderstorm Wind53 kt wind06/25/2026
La Cienega, Santa Fe County
- Flash Flood06/25/2026
Cundiyo, Santa Fe County
- Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind06/25/2026
(Saf)santa Fe Muni Airport, Santa Fe County
- Thunderstorm Wind54 kt wind06/24/2026
(Saf)santa Fe Muni Airport, Santa Fe County
- Wildfire06/23/2026
Central Highlands
Drinking water
45 community water systems serve about 134,826 people. Violations since 2021.
29 systems had health-based violations, such as a contaminant over the legal limit or a missed treatment step. 17 systems had a violation of any kind still open at last report.
- Santa Fe Water System (City Of)Serves 90,810 · Surface water · Local government1 health violation+3 monitoring or reporting
- Entranosa Water AssociationServes 8,500 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
- Eldorado Area Water and Sanitation Dist.Serves 7,082 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations
- Epcor Water New Mexico INC., EdgewoodServes 6,795 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
- Santa Fe County South SectorServes 6,775 · Purchased surface water · Local government1 health violation+2 monitoring or reporting
- Santa Fe County West SectorServes 3,150 · Purchased surface water · Local government1 health violation+4 monitoring or reporting
- Glorieta CampsServes 2,700 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+5 monitoring or reporting
- Las Campanas Water SystemServes 1,937 · Purchased surface water · PrivateNo health violations
Largest systems by population served. Monitoring and reporting violations mean required tests or notices were late or missing, not that the water was unsafe.
Climate
1991-2020 normals at Santa Fe Seton, 5.9 mi from the county center
Summer highs peak around 86°F in Jul and winter lows bottom out near 21°F in Jan. About 14.7 inches of rain falls in a typical year, with 28.1 inches of snow.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 21°F | 0.79 in | 5.0 in |
| Feb | 47°F | 23°F | 0.69 in | 5.5 in |
| Mar | 56°F | 29°F | 0.94 in | 4.2 in |
| Apr | 63°F | 34°F | 0.78 in | 1.1 in |
| May | 73°F | 44°F | 0.88 in | - |
| Jun | 84°F | 54°F | 0.87 in | - |
| Jul | 86°F | 57°F | 2.48 in | - |
| Aug | 83°F | 56°F | 2.19 in | - |
| Sep | 77°F | 50°F | 1.60 in | - |
| Oct | 66°F | 39°F | 1.56 in | 0.5 in |
| Nov | 52°F | 28°F | 0.95 in | 3.2 in |
| Dec | 42°F | 21°F | 1.01 in | 8.6 in |
| Year | 51°F average | 14.7 in | 28.1 in | |
Pollution sites
0 Superfund sites and 0 toxic release facilities in Santa Fe County
No Superfund sites or toxic release facilities in Santa Fe County in our data.
Superfund sitesToxic release facilitiesEPA inspections and enforcementAir toxics cancer risk51 historic places
Frequently asked questions
- How risky is Santa Fe County for natural disasters?
- FEMA rates Santa Fe County relatively moderate for overall natural hazard risk, with expected losses of $48.95M a year. The highest-rated hazards are wildfire (relatively high), winter weather (relatively high), lightning (relatively high).
- What storms are most common in Santa Fe County?
- Since 1996, NOAA recorded 1,038 storm events affecting Santa Fe County, most often drought (314), high wind (223), heavy snow (141).
- How many tornadoes have hit Santa Fe County?
- 27 tornadoes have been recorded in Santa Fe County since 1950.
- How many homes in Santa Fe County have flood insurance?
- 388 residential flood insurance policies are in force in Santa Fe County, covering about 0.6% of homes. The program has paid $958K on 53 claims here since 1978.
- What is the weather like in Santa Fe County?
- At Santa Fe Seton, average highs reach 86°F in Jul and lows fall to 21°F in Jan, with 14.7 inches of rain a year (1991-2020 normals).
Source: FEMA (National Risk Index, NFIP), NOAA (Storm Events, HURDAT2, Climate Normals), EPA · Last updated 08/01/2026 · Storm counts include events in forecast zones that touch the county. This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.