Valencia County, NM Environment & Hazard Risk

• EarthquakeRelatively Moderate$4.4M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 203 years
• LightningRelatively High$913K/yr expected annual loss, about 58 events a year
• WildfireRelatively Low$727K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1,207 years
• Winter weatherRelatively Moderate$190K/yr expected annual loss, about 7.6 events a year
• Heat waveRelatively Low$724K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.4 events a year
• HailRelatively Low$348K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• DroughtRelatively Low$174K/yr expected annual loss, about 53 events a year
• Strong windRelatively Low$209K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4 years
• TornadoVery Low$175K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 14 years
• Volcanic activityVery Low$0/yr expected annual loss, about once every 5,000 years
• AvalancheVery Low$16/yr expected annual loss, about once every 100 years
• Cold waveVery Low$130K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 18 years
• Ice stormVery Low$5,774/yr expected annual loss, about once every 67 years
• LandslideVery Low$19/yr expected annual loss, about once every 5 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

2,142 of 32,101 (6.7%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

14,722

Insured in high-risk zones

2,111 (14%)

Flood claims since 1978

125

Claims paid since 1978

$982K

• Drought171
• High Wind123
• Heavy Snow61 · 3 deaths
• Thunderstorm Wind29
• Hail26
• Flash Flood20
• Wildfire11
• Dust Storm6
• Strong Wind6
• Flood4

• 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

  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.

• 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.

• Flash Flood09/29/2017

  Belen, Valencia County

  $7.5M damage

  What happened

  Retention ponds in Belen overflowing into neighborhoods on west side of Belen. Widespread street flooding in town. Travel along Interstate 25 becoming very difficult as water is ponding along the highway.

• 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.

• Thunderstorm Wind70 kt wind05/24/1999

  Los Chavez, Valencia County

  2 injured, $1.2M damage

  What happened

  A severe storm which began near Alamo in northwest Socorro County swept northeast across central Valencia County with high winds and large hail. Heavy wind damage from sustained winds estimated near 80 mph overturned and destroyed about 15 mobile homes and caused damage to about 150 other homes with many small outbuildings and sheds blown down in the area from Los Chavez to Tome Hill between Los Lunas and Belen. Large hail also knocked out numerous windows and broke windshields. Only two relatively minor injuries were reported in the hardest hit area. Residents had 40-60 minutes advanced warning and school officials successfully evacuated numerous portable classroom buildings without incident or injury to students before high winds struck.

• TornadoEF0, 1.2 mi path, 60 yd wide06/25/2026

  Los Lunas, Valencia County

  $300K damage

• Wildfire06/20/2026

  South Central Highlands

• Drought06/01/2026

  Middle Rio Grande Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area

• Drought06/01/2026

  Sandia/Manzano Mountains Including Edgewood

• Drought06/01/2026

  West Central Highlands

• Drought05/01/2026

  West Central Highlands

• High Wind62 kt wind04/26/2026

  Middle Rio Grande Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area

• High Wind66 kt wind04/26/2026

  South Central Highlands

• Los Lunas Water SystemServes 19,400 · Groundwater · Local government3 health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Belen Water SystemServes 10,830 · Groundwater · Local government24 health violations+67 monitoring or reporting
• Rio Communities Water SystemServes 5,513 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
• Rio Del Oro Water SystemServes 4,387 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
• Bosque Farms Water Supply SystemServes 4,367 · Groundwater · Local government11 health violations+13 monitoring or reporting
• Meadow Lake Water SystemServes 2,760 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
• Monterey Water Company INC.Serves 1,472 · Groundwater · Private2 health violations
• Hi Mesa Water SystemServes 259 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+3 monitoring or reporting