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Tornado in Otero County, New Mexico
18 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 18 tornado events in Otero County, New Mexico, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 14 years.
June is the busiest month, with 6 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 6 events against 5 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 2.6% of the 687 tornado events recorded in New Mexico; its 0.3 per 100 square miles compares with 0.6 statewide.
By rating: 12 at (E)F0, 5 at (E)F1, 1 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with New Mexico
| Measure | Otero County | New Mexico | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 18 | 687 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 0.3 | 0.6 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 2.6 | 3.2 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 5 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | June | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
1Apr
1May
3Jun
6Jul
3Aug
3Sep
0Oct
1Nov
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 18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Mar 2020 | Tornado | EF0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2019 | Tornado | EF1 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 26 Jul 2015 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Oct 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2003 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 1991 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 1989 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1987 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 1982 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 1981 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 1981 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 1979 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1972 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 1959 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 1959 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Otero County had?
18 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 Otero County?
13 Mar 2020 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Otero County?
The tornado of 27 May 1982, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $250K.
How does Otero County compare with New Mexico for tornado?
0.3 events per 100 square miles against 0.6 statewide; the county holds 18 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.