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Flood in Quay County, New Mexico
23 floods and flash floods events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Flood, Flash Flood, Coastal Flood, Lakeshore Flood.
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 flood events in Quay County, New Mexico, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 14 years.
August is the busiest month, with 6 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 14 events against 9 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.2% of the 1,880 flood events recorded in New Mexico; its 0.8 per 100 square miles compares with 1.5 statewide.
Compared with New Mexico
| Measure | Quay County | New Mexico | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flood events since 1950 | 23 | 1,880 | 183,559 |
| Per 100 square miles | 0.8 | 1.5 | 5.2 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 26.6 | 8.9 | 5.5 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 51 | 2,961 |
| Busiest month | August | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
0Apr
0May
4Jun
4Jul
5Aug
6Sep
1Oct
3Nov
0Dec
0
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 May 2023 | Flash Flood | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2023 | Flash Flood | — | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2021 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Oct 2017 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Oct 2017 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Oct 2017 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2016 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2014 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2014 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2010 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2010 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 2008 | Flash Flood | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2008 | Flash Flood | — | $500 | $500 | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2008 | Flash Flood | — | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2006 | Flash Flood | — | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Sep 2005 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 2004 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 2004 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 2004 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2003 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 1999 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 1998 | Flash Flood | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 1997 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many flood events has Quay County had?
23 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of floods and flash floods became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded flood event in Quay County?
26 May 2023 (Flash Flood). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging flood event recorded in Quay County?
The flash flood of 25 May 2023, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $500K.
How does Quay County compare with New Mexico for flood?
0.8 events per 100 square miles against 1.5 statewide; the county holds 23 of the state's 1,880 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 30 Sep 2026. See the methodology, the Flood hub and the county page.