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Wind in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico
23 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 23 wind events in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 16 years.
July is the busiest month, with 9 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 11 events against 10 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.4% of the 6,514 wind events recorded in New Mexico; its 0.4 per 100 square miles compares with 5.4 statewide.
16 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 4 reached hurricane force (74 mph).
Compared with New Mexico
| Measure | Rio Arriba County | New Mexico | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 23 | 6,514 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 0.4 | 5.4 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 5.7 | 30.8 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 18 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | July | April | June |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
0Apr
0May
3Jun
6Jul
9Aug
1Sep
2Oct
1Nov
0Dec
1
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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Sep 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Sep 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Oct 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Rio Arriba County had?
23 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 Rio Arriba County?
19 Jun 2024 (Thunderstorm Wind, 59 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Rio Arriba County?
The thunderstorm wind of 26 Jul 2000, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $50K.
How does Rio Arriba County compare with New Mexico for wind?
0.4 events per 100 square miles against 5.4 statewide; the county holds 23 of the state's 6,514 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.