New Mexico

What kinds of natural disasters happen in New Mexico?

Published

2 years ago

September 18, 2024

What kinds of natural disasters happen in New Mexico?

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – New Mexico is well known for its many days of sunshine, but in a desert climate, severe weather can hit rapidly. If you live in or visit New Mexico here are the types of severe weather to be prepared for:

KRQE’s Weather Forecasts

Thunderstorms and Flash Floods

One of the most prevalent types of hazardous weather in New Mexico is the thunderstorm. All New Mexico counties experience intense thunderstorms that produce strong winds, large hail, heavy rain, and even deadly lightning strikes. Large storms occur most frequently in eastern areas of the state from April through June and throughout the rest of the state from July through August.

Thunderstorms can also lead to flash flooding, which can quickly become dangerous and can harm people, structures, and the surrounding environment. Flash flooding is the most devastating after wildfires and is often seen in locations with burn scars, such as the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fire burn scar area and the South Fork/Salt fire burn scar area.

PICTURES: Rain over burn scars causes flooding in New Mexico communities

Tornadoes

Although mostly weak and short-lived, tornadoes have occurred in most New Mexico counties, typically taking place about 10 times per year. When it comes to tornadoes, the most at-risk part of the state is in the east from April through July, during thunderstorm season. However, more common than tornadoes in New Mexico are landspouts, which are tornado variations similar to dust devils that can form without the presence of strong thunderstorms.

Eastern New Mexico cleans up after 2 tornados roll through area

Earthquakes

Earthquakes can also occur in New Mexico from both human and natural causes. Human activity like mining, fracking, and weapon testing can shake those nearby while faults and volcanic activity can cause more significant earthquakes.

New Mexico doesn’t typically see very large earthquakes, but smaller ones are fairly common along the Rio Grande Valley, due to the geology of the Rio Grande Rift, and near Socorro, due to the activity of magma. Because most earthquakes take place on plate boundaries, New Mexico is spared from the more severe earthquakes that affect states on the coasts.

Two earthquakes reported in Bernalillo County

Wildfires

Wildfires are some of the most devastating natural disasters that occur in New Mexico. Drought has its own disaster implications, but it also contributes to the start and spread of wildfires throughout the state, as do strong winds and dry vegetation. Since the year 2000, over 7 million acres total have been burned by fires in New Mexico. Most of the state’s wildfires are human or lightning-caused and can range from small blazes to burning thousands of acres.

KRQE’s Wildfire Coverage

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 – Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.

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New Mexico

New Mexico Environment Department to hold hearings on Project Jupiter air quality

Published

12 hours ago

March 26, 2026

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New Mexico Environment Department to hold hearings on Project Jupiter air quality

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New Mexico

UNM plans to build new gates along Central

Published

24 hours ago

March 26, 2026

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UNM plans to build new gates along Central

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico plans to build new gates at four campus entrances along Central that will close nightly.

The gates will replace manual barriers in a project expected to cost about $1.5 million.

The Board of Regents approved the security upgrades for the UNM campus.

University officials said the gates will automatically close nightly from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The gates will go in near Princeton Drive, Stanford Drive, Yale Boulevard and Terrace Street on the south end of campus.

A current rendering shows the gate completely blocking the road. Officials said the change will reduce unauthorized traffic and allow police officers to focus more effectively on prevention and response.

Construction will start in May. University officials hope to finish the project by September.

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New Mexico

9-year-old who pleaded to go to spelling bee is released from ICE detention

Published

1 day ago

March 25, 2026

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9-year-old who pleaded to go to spelling bee is released from ICE detention

A 9-year-old boy who begged to be released from an immigration detention center so he could attend his state spelling bee has been freed with his family, their lawyer said Wednesday.

Deiver Henao Jimenez made the plea during a video call this month with children’s entertainer Ms. Rachel, whose real name is Rachel Accurso.

“I don’t want to be here anymore,” Deiver said on the call, which was later shared on Accurso’s social media pages. “Nothing is good here.”

He and his parents, asylum-seekers from Colombia, had been held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in South Texas since early March, when they were detained during a routine immigration check-in in New Mexico, according to their lawyer, Corey Sullivan Martin.

ICE freed the family on humanitarian parole Wednesday, about a week after Martin filed a request for their release and days after NBC News reported on their case.

Deiver Henao Jimenez finished third in a Spanish spelling bee organized by Las Cruces, N.M., Public Schools.Las Cruces Public Schools

His elementary school principal wrote a letter in mid-March supporting the family’s release, which was later delivered to immigration officials, describing Deiver as “a dedicated student with excellent attendance and high marks.”

Sullivan Martin said Deiver is eager to return to school, rejoin his gifted and talented classes and get back to practicing his spelling words.

“I don’t see how it was necessary at all to detain a child who was doing exactly what we want children to do,” Sullivan Martin said.

The family planned to return to New Mexico, she said, where they will continue checking in with immigration officials while their case proceeds.

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Deiver was released a day after ICE freed another child whose case drew widespread attention following a video call with Accurso. Gael, a 5-year-old boy with developmental disabilities, had experienced worsening medical issues while he was detained at Dilley, his parents said.

The facility has faced growing scrutiny from immigration lawyers and advocates, who say children there have struggled to access adequate medical care and education in an environment where lights remain on around the clock and officers stand guard. Some families have described poor food and long waits for medical attention.

DHS has disputed those accounts, saying families are provided appropriate care in a facility designed for their needs.

After her video meetings with the children, Accurso — known for her signature pink headband and singsong delivery — called for Dilley to be shut down and for families to be returned to their communities.

During their conversation, Deiver told Accurso he missed his friends and said the food at Dilley made his stomach hurt. But he was most worried about getting out in time to compete in New Mexico’s state spelling bee in May after he earned a spot by placing third at a regional competition.

“We’re trying to get a child out of a jail to do a spelling bee,” Accurso said last week. “I just never thought those words would go together.”

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