51
Recorded events
0
Direct deaths
0
Direct injuries
$2.9M
Property damage
Flash Flood in Socorro County, New Mexico: 51 recorded events between 1996 and 2025. The strongest on record measured 0. That places the county #591 nationally and #15 statewide for this hazard.
Decade by decade
Flash Flood in Socorro County, New Mexico: events per decade
Reporting practice changed over time — early decades are undercounted, not calmer.
The busiest decade for flash flood in Socorro County is the 2010s, when 22 of the county's 51 recorded events were logged. Comparing decades is useful for spotting active periods, but the earliest years are thin because systematic reporting for this hazard began later.
Within the Socorro County archive, flash flood makes up 27.1% of all recorded severe weather across 9 hazard types. Nationally the county sits at #591 for this hazard and #15 within New Mexico, putting it in the 80.7 percentile of all U.S. counties.
Seasonality
Events by month
Jul is the peak month for flash flood in Socorro County with 29 recorded events, while Jan is the quietest. Seasonality here is a property of the archive as much as the climate: reports cluster where population and spotter networks are densest.
Most recent
Latest recorded events
| Date | Location | Magnitude | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 7, 2025 | SABINAL | 0 | $10K |
| Jul 20, 2025 | MAGDALENA MUNI ARPT | 0 | $0 |
| Jul 3, 2025 | LAS NUTRIAS | 0 | $0 |
| Aug 25, 2023 | BINGHAM | 0 | $0 |
| Jul 31, 2022 | MAGDALENA MUNI ARPT | 0 | $0 |
| Jul 25, 2022 | ALAMO | 0 | $15K |
| Jul 25, 2022 | MAGDALENA | 0 | $50K |
| Sep 5, 2021 | DUSTY | 0 | $15K |
| Jul 23, 2021 | BERNARDO | 0 | $250K |
| Jul 7, 2021 | VEGUITA | 0 | $500K |
Other hazards here
More from Socorro County
- Hail 61
- Thunderstorm Wind 55
From the record
What the reports say
Written by National Weather Service staff at the time of the event · public domain
Very strong thunderstorms with heavy rainfall of 2 to 4 inches severely impacted the Socorro area as well as areas north of the city into the early morning hours of July 7th. The Socorro County emergency manager reported that irrigation ditches throughout Socorro County were impacted with overtopping and washing out due to the flood waters. The La Joya Acequia sustained significant damage with several feet of concrete-lined ditches lost and culverts exposed. The Sabinal Fire Station in northern Socorro County was flooded, and numerous homes in low-lying areas in the County had water surrounding them. Numerous country roads and arroyos were flooded and washed out. The BNSF Railroad was also significantly impacted as all trains had to be stopped due to silt and rock debris covering the railroad tracks that go through Socorro County. Damages are estimated.
Strong thunderstorms that moved southwest through Socorro County brought heavy rain with reports of one to two inches. This resulted in widespread flooding across central Socorro County. The La Joya area was especially impacted with additional damage to the La Joya Acequia. A large section of the concrete ditch system north of La Joya was severely damaged, and several ditches and drains were filled with silt. All of the arroyos in the La Joya area flooded which washed away several of the arroyo banks and caused additional damage. The Rio Puerco River created to 17.75 feet Friday evening which was its highest level since 2013. Homes in the Contreras area were surrounded by flood water. Damages are estimated.
Heavy rain near Socorro filled arroyos with runoff during the late evening. Several levees along Arroyo Matanza failed as additional strong runoff from the Magdalena Mountains overwhelmed a 90 degree turn in the arroyo just south of Socorro. Water flooded nearly 800 acres of farmland washing away fresh cut alfalfa hay and covering about 300 acres in heavy mud. An adjacent railroad bed was also undercut least 5 times along 2 miles of track.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many flash flood events are on record in Socorro County, New Mexico?
51 flash flood events are recorded in Socorro County between 1996 and 2025, causing 0 direct deaths.
What is the strongest flash flood recorded in Socorro County?
The strongest flash flood on record in Socorro County measured 0.
Where does the flash flood data for Socorro County come from?
All events come from the NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, the federal public-domain archive of severe weather reports. Dates are UTC, damage is as reported and not inflation-adjusted, and the most recent entries may still be revised.
Cite this page
“Flash Flood in Socorro County, New Mexico.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/county/new-mexico/socorro-county/flash-flood/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.