States › New Mexico › Sandoval County › Tornado
Tornado in Sandoval County, New Mexico
11 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.
Sandoval County, New Mexico, has 11 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 10 different years.
May is the busiest month, with 5 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 7 events against 3 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.6% of the 687 tornado events recorded in New Mexico; its 0.3 per 100 square miles compares with 0.6 statewide.
By rating: 7 at (E)F0, 2 at (E)F1, 0 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 2 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with New Mexico
| Measure | Sandoval County | New Mexico | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 11 | 687 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 0.3 | 0.6 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 0.7 | 3.2 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 5 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
0Apr
0May
5Jun
1Jul
2Aug
2Sep
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 11 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 Aug 2025 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2024 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2021 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2021 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2018 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 1991 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Sep 1988 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Aug 1966 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Sandoval County had?
11 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 Sandoval County?
19 Aug 2025 (Tornado, EF unrated). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Sandoval County?
The tornado of 13 Sep 1988, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $250K.
How does Sandoval County compare with New Mexico for tornado?
0.3 events per 100 square miles against 0.6 statewide; the county holds 11 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 30 Sep 2026. See the methodology, the Tornado hub and the county page.