Lea County, New Mexico tornadoes

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96confirmed tornadoes since NOAA records began in 1950 (the first here in 1954). Most recent: November 2, 2024, EFU. 2026 so far: 1 preliminary report preliminary

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Map

Every tornado path in the county

Fromto

Tornado paths, 1950 to 2025

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(E)F0(E)F1(E)F2(E)F3(E)F4(E)F5Unrated

Each path is a straight line from where the tornado started to where it ended, which is all most NOAA records hold. Tap a path for its details.

Recent warnings

Recent warnings in Lea County

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The record

At a glance

Total961950 to 2025

Per year1.3average since 1950

Peak monthMay40 of 96

StrongestF3May 17, 1954

Deaths0whole paths, see note

Injuries8whole paths, see note

Deaths and injuries are NOAA's totals for each tornado's whole path, which can extend beyond Lea County.

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

May is the peak month, with 40 of 96 tornadoes.

By time of day

Most often around 5:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

The line is the five-year average. Tornadoes before about 1953 were under-reported, and better radar since the 1990s finds more weak ones. This year so far: 1 preliminary reports.

By rating

EF0

EF1

EF2

EF3

Unknown

Ratings before February 2007 use the original F scale; the numbers line up with today's EF scale. Unknown means NOAA could not assign a rating.

The record

Notable tornadoes

Strongest

All 96 tornadoes, newest first

Tornadoes, newest first
Date	Rating	Path length	Width	Injuries
Nov 2, 2024	EFU	6.27 mi	200 yd	0
Nov 2, 2024	EFU	1.29 mi	50 yd	0
May 27, 2023	EFU	3.5 mi	50 yd	0
May 27, 2023	EFU	1 mi	50 yd	0
May 23, 2014	EF0	3.65 mi	200 yd	0
Mar 23, 2007	EF0	1 mi	75 yd	0
Mar 23, 2007	EF0	1 mi	100 yd	0
Mar 23, 2007	EF2	8.36 mi	880 yd	0
Mar 23, 2007	EF0	3 mi	30 yd	0
Apr 30, 1999	F0	0.2 mi	120 yd	0
Oct 27, 1998	F0	0.5 mi	100 yd	0
May 28, 1997	F0	0.3 mi	50 yd	0
May 8, 1997	F0	2.5 mi	60 yd	0
May 6, 1997	F1	1 mi	200 yd	0
Jun 2, 1996	F0	0.3 mi	50 yd	0
Aug 14, 1995	F0	0.4 mi	40 yd	0
Jun 25, 1995	F0	0.2 mi	40 yd	0
May 26, 1995	F1	2.5 mi	100 yd	0
Sep 7, 1994	F0	0.1 mi	40 yd	0
May 26, 1994	F0	1 mi	40 yd	0
Jun 1, 1992	F0	0.1 mi	13 yd	0
May 24, 1992	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
May 22, 1992	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
May 22, 1992	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
May 22, 1992	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
May 13, 1992	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
Aug 10, 1991	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
Jun 6, 1991	F0	0.2 mi	10 yd	0
Jun 6, 1991	F2	4.5 mi	100 yd	0
Jun 6, 1991	F2	17.5 mi	150 yd	0
Jun 6, 1991	F2	10 mi	150 yd	5
Jun 6, 1991	F2	10 mi	150 yd	0
Jun 6, 1991	F0	0.3 mi	10 yd	0
Jun 6, 1991	F0	0.2 mi	10 yd	0
Jun 5, 1991	F0	0.3 mi	20 yd	0
Jun 5, 1991	F0	0.2 mi	10 yd	0
Jun 5, 1991	F0	0.2 mi	10 yd	0
Jun 5, 1991	F0	0.2 mi	10 yd	0
Jun 5, 1991	F0	0.5 mi	10 yd	0
Jun 5, 1991	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
Jun 5, 1991	F0	0.5 mi	10 yd	0
Aug 2, 1989	F1	2.5 mi	50 yd	0
Jun 10, 1989	F0	3 mi	23 yd	0
May 11, 1989	F1	5 mi	23 yd	0
May 20, 1988	F0	0.2 mi	10 yd	0
May 20, 1988	F0	0.2 mi	30 yd	1
Apr 16, 1988	F1	0.2 mi	10 yd	0
May 30, 1987	F0	0.2 mi	10 yd	0
May 26, 1987	F0	0.2 mi	10 yd	0
May 25, 1987	F0	0.2 mi	10 yd	0
May 25, 1987	F0	0.2 mi	10 yd	0
May 25, 1987	F0	0.2 mi	10 yd	0
May 23, 1987	F0	0.2 mi	10 yd	0
Jul 1, 1986	F0	0.2 mi	10 yd	0
Jul 24, 1985	F0	0.2 mi	10 yd	0
Jun 5, 1985	F0	0.2 mi	10 yd	0
May 19, 1985	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
May 30, 1983	F0	0.2 mi	20 yd	0
Jun 10, 1982	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
May 27, 1982	F2	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
Aug 2, 1979	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
Jul 24, 1979	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
Oct 10, 1978	F1	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
Sep 13, 1977	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
Apr 19, 1977	F1	5.1 mi	400 yd	0
Jul 23, 1975	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
Apr 18, 1973	F1	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
Jun 14, 1972	F2	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
Jun 14, 1971	F1	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
May 27, 1970	F1	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
May 25, 1970	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
Apr 18, 1970	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
Apr 17, 1970	F1	7.1 mi	10 yd	0
Apr 17, 1970	F1	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
Apr 10, 1969	F1	19.4 mi	10 yd	2
May 10, 1968	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
Aug 7, 1966	F1	0.2 mi	10 yd	0
May 26, 1966	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
May 26, 1966	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
May 10, 1966	F0	1 mi	10 yd	0
Aug 31, 1963	F1	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
Jun 8, 1963	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
Jul 27, 1962	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
Jun 7, 1961	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
May 30, 1961	F1	1 mi	27 yd	0
Jul 24, 1960	F2	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
Apr 26, 1960	F0	0.5 mi	20 yd	0
Apr 7, 1959	F1	0.5 mi	10 yd	0
May 30, 1957	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
May 30, 1957	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
May 30, 1957	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
May 29, 1956	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
May 17, 1954	F1	4.3 mi	50 yd	0
May 17, 1954	F3	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
May 16, 1954	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0
May 16, 1954	F1	0.5 mi	100 yd	0

This year

2026 preliminary reports not yet confirmed

Report date	Location	Rating
Jun 5, 2026	7 WNW Buckeye	Not yet rated

Preliminary reports from the Storm Prediction Center. One tornado can be reported more than once, and NOAA confirms the final record months later.

Nearby

Nearby counties

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Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025, and SPC preliminary reports for 2026. Page built October 13, 2026.