New Mexico, 1997Tornadoes and Hail in New Mexico, October 11, 1997
October 11, 1997 · NWS ABQ · 9 events in 1 county or zone
A series of severe thunderstorms developed across Colfax County prior to the passage of a strong cold front. Storms developed repeatedly over south central areas of the county between Springer and Cimarron and sped northeast mainly across open range.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $60,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 9
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
A series of severe thunderstorms developed across Colfax County prior to the passage of a strong cold front. Storms developed repeatedly over south central areas of the county between Springer and Cimarron and sped northeast mainly across open range. A number of small and short lived tornadoes were recorded during late afternoon. Storms continued to develop into the early and mid-evening with straightline wind and hail damage reported in Raton.
Event by event
4 tornado, 3 thunderstorm wind, 1 funnel cloud, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Tornado, Colfax
- When
- October 11, 3:30 PM MST to 3:31 PM MST
- Where
- Colfax County, 10 mi SW of Cimarron
- Rating
- F0
- Path length
- 0.1 mi
- Path width
- 50 yd
- Coordinates
- 36.420, -105.030
A small tornado was observed on the Tooth of Time ridge southwest of Cimarron.
Tornado, Colfax
- When
- October 11, 3:40 PM MST to 3:41 PM MST
- Where
- Colfax County, 10 mi E of Cimarron
- Rating
- F0
- Path length
- 0.1 mi
- Path width
- 50 yd
- Coordinates
- 36.520, -104.720
A second small tornado developed on the CS Ranch east of Cimarron.
Tornado, Colfax
- When
- October 11, 4:50 PM MST to 4:51 PM MST
- Where
- Colfax County, 12 mi SE of Raton
- Rating
- F0
- Path length
- 0.1 mi
- Path width
- 50 yd
- Coordinates
- 36.780, -104.280
A small tornado was photographed over the T-O Ranch southeast of Raton.
Thunderstorm Wind, Colfax
- When
- October 11, 5:30 PM MST to 6:00 PM MST
- Where
- Colfax County, Springer
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Coordinates
- 36.370, -104.580
Utility lines and power poles were downed by thunderstorm winds.
Thunderstorm Wind, Colfax
- When
- October 11, 5:30 PM MST to 6:00 PM MST
- Where
- Colfax County, 6 mi E of Raton
- Property damage
- $10,000
- Coordinates
- 36.900, -104.320
Snow fencing was ripped out by thunderstorm winds.
Tornado, Colfax
- When
- October 11, 5:45 PM MST to 5:46 PM MST
- Where
- Colfax County, 2 mi SE of Maxwell
- Rating
- F0
- Path length
- 0.1 mi
- Path width
- 50 yd
- Coordinates
- 36.520, -104.500
A small tornado was observed near Maxwell.
Thunderstorm Wind, Colfax
- When
- October 11, 8:15 PM MST to 8:45 PM MST
- Where
- Colfax County, Raton
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph)
- Property damage
- $30,000
- Coordinates
- 36.900, -104.430
Highway signs were blown over at the Raton Truck Stop. Trees and small lawn building were also damaged across town.
Funnel Cloud, Colfax
- When
- October 11, 8:25 PM MST
- Where
- Colfax County, 10 mi S of Springer
- Coordinates
- 36.606, -104.647 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
At least two funnel clouds were sighted south of Springer.
Hail, Colfax
- When
- October 11, 8:35 PM MST
- Where
- Colfax County, Raton
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Coordinates
- 36.900, -104.430
- Tornado
- A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
- Funnel Cloud
- A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
- Hail
- Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Rip Currents in Florida, October 11 to 13, 19971 death · 4 events
- Tornadoes in Colorado, October 11, 19976 injured · $200,000 · F1 · 2 events
- Tornado and Hail in Colorado, October 11, 1997$120,000 · F1 · 5 events
- High Wind in Nebraska, October 11, 1997$276,000 · 6 events
- Tornado and Hail in Colorado, October 11, 1997$85,000 · F1 · 2 events
- Damaging Winds in North Dakota, October 11, 1997$180,000 · 85 kt wind · 2 events
- High Wind in Colorado, October 11, 1997$75,000 · 90 kt wind · 7 events
- Hail in Colorado, October 11, 1997$50,000 · 2.75 in hail · 4 events
- Tornado and Hail in South Dakota, October 11, 1997$26,000 · F0 · 16 events
- Flash Flooding in Puerto Rico, October 11, 1997$50,000 · 2 events
- Flash Flooding in Texas, October 11, 1997$50,000 · 2 events
- Damaging Wind in Nebraska, October 11, 1997$50,000 · 1 event
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5617514, 5617515, 5617516, 5617518, 5617519, 5617517, 5617574, 5617575, 5617576.