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Tornado in Lincoln County, New Mexico
23 tornadoes events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Tornado.
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 23 tornado events in Lincoln County, New Mexico, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 18 years.
May is the busiest month, with 13 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 14 events against 3 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 3.3% of the 687 tornado events recorded in New Mexico; its 0.5 per 100 square miles compares with 0.6 statewide.
By rating: 13 at (E)F0, 7 at (E)F1, 0 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 3 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with New Mexico
| Measure | Lincoln County | New Mexico | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 23 | 687 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 0.5 | 0.6 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 11.3 | 3.2 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 5 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
0Apr
0May
13Jun
7Jul
2Aug
0Sep
1Oct
0Nov
0Dec
0
Magnitude distribution
Enhanced Fujita scale wind estimates
- EF0/F0
- 65–85 mph (EF0)
- EF1/F1
- 86–110 mph (EF1)
- EF2/F2
- 111–135 mph (EF2)
- EF3/F3
- 136–165 mph (EF3)
- EF4/F4
- 166–200 mph (EF4)
- EF5/F5
- over 200 mph (EF5)
- Unrated
- no rating recorded
Tornado rating as recorded (Fujita scale before February 2007, Enhanced Fujita after).
Recorded events
All 23 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jul 2024 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2023 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2021 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2019 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2018 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2018 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2018 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2014 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | $5K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 1994 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 1989 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1987 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 1972 | Tornado | F1 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Sep 1971 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 1964 | Tornado | F1 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 1964 | Tornado | F1 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1962 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1957 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Lincoln County had?
23 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of tornadoes became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded tornado event in Lincoln County?
9 Jul 2024 (Tornado, EF unrated). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Lincoln County?
The tornado of 8 Jun 2014, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $100K.
How does Lincoln County compare with New Mexico for tornado?
0.5 events per 100 square miles against 0.6 statewide; the county holds 23 of the state's 687 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 Tornado hub and the county page.