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Wind in Otero County, Colorado
137 damaging wind events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Thunderstorm Wind, High Wind, Strong Wind.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
NCEI records 137 wind events in Otero County, Colorado, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 47 years.
July is the busiest month, with 48 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 66 events against 33 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.5% of the 8,940 wind events recorded in Colorado; its 10.9 per 100 square miles compares with 8.6 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to damaging wind.
102 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 14 reached hurricane force (74 mph).
Compared with Colorado
| Measure | Otero County | Colorado | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 137 | 8,940 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 10.9 | 8.6 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 73.7 | 15.4 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 27 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | July | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
1Apr
3May
21Jun
41Jul
48Aug
14Sep
6Oct
3Nov
0Dec
0
Magnitude distribution
NWS wind thresholds
- under 58 mph
- below severe threshold
- 58–73 mph
- severe
- 74–95 mph
- hurricane-force
- 96 mph and over
- extreme
Wind speed converted from the knots NCEI records; estimated and measured gusts are combined. Events without a speed are not binned.
Recorded events
All 137 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Oct 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 87 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 76 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Sep 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Sep 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $10K | — | 1 | — | County |
| 31 May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Sep 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | $80K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 86 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 84 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 82 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Oct 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 93 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Sep 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 77 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 1977 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 1977 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 1977 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 1973 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 1973 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1972 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1970 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1970 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1970 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 1969 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1969 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 1967 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 1967 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 1966 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 1966 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 1965 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 1963 | Thunderstorm Wind | 82 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 1962 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 1960 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 1958 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 1958 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 1957 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Otero County had?
137 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of damaging wind became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded wind event in Otero County?
20 Oct 2024 (Thunderstorm Wind, 59 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Otero County?
The thunderstorm wind of 26 Jun 2007, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $80K.
How does Otero County compare with Colorado for wind?
10.9 events per 100 square miles against 8.6 statewide; the county holds 137 of the state's 8,940 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Wind hub and the county page.