Dust Devil in New Mexico

Events

19

Deaths

0

Injuries

25

Damage

$155,000

• Dust Devil in New Mexico, June 21, 201920 injured · $10,000 · 1 eventMultiple injuries were reported at the Guru Ram Das Puri retreat center just west of Espa ola due to a large tent that blew down during a dust devil. The tent was occupied by over 300 people, according to Rio Arriba County Sheriff's deputies.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in New Mexico, July 17, 2009$61,000 · 1.75 in hail · 22 eventsA back door cold front early on the 17th provided a fresh supply of low level moisture over eastern New Mexico. Southeast low level winds and moderate northwest flow aloft allowed for strong shear, producing long lived and severe thunderstorms.
• Dust Devil in New Mexico, September 1, 2019$50,000 · 1 eventA very hot and unstable airmass with meager moisture over northern New Mexico set the stage for a couple showers and thunderstorms on September 1, 2019. A large dust devil kicked up on the edge of one of these showers near Taos during the late afternoon hours.
• Dust Devil in New Mexico, July 15, 20014 injured · 1 eventFour children received minor injuries when caught in a large dust devil near Magdalena.
• Dust Devil in New Mexico, May 22, 2013$30,000 · 1 eventWarm, dry, and unstable conditions with a very weak layer of mid-level moisture produced a destructive dust devil over Los Alamos. This dust devil produced damage to Barranca Elementary school.
• Damaging Wind and Dust Devil in New Mexico, September 15, 2014$20,000 · 56 kt wind · 2 eventsA strong thunderstorm that developed over the Albuquerque International Sunport shifted slowly west into Albuquerque's South Valley late on the 15th. This storm produced very heavy rainfall, strong winds, and a large dust devil or gustnado within the south valley corridor.
• Dust Devil in New Mexico, April 28, 2003$20,000 · 1 eventA large dust devil swept out of an open field and damaged the roof and side wall of grocery store in Edgewood.
• Dust Devil in New Mexico, June 2, 2003$15,000 · 1 eventA strong dust devil swept away part of the roof and a drive-through carport at a Belen restaurant.
• Dust Devil in New Mexico, August 12, 20021 injured · 1 eventA strong dust devil reportedly tossed a golf pro and his student about twenty feet at the Los Alamos golf course while pelting them with small debris and several large artifical turf mats that were picked up in the wind.
• High Wind and Strong Wind in New Mexico, March 12, 2016$6,000 · 51 kt wind · 4 eventsA strong jet stream moving over New Mexico interacted with deepening surface low pressure over the plains to produce widespread windy conditions. The strongest winds impacted areas along the central high terrain and nearby east slopes where gusts near 60 mph were observed.
• Damaging Winds and Dust Devil in New Mexico, May 27, 202258 kt wind · 3 eventsAs an upper-level ridge built over New Mexico on May 27, 2022, mid-level moisture seeping into the area underneath this ridge resulted in high based shower activity developing during the afternoon and evening hours.
• Flash Flood and Dust Devil in New Mexico, July 17, 20172 eventsAn intense, slow-moving thunderstorm developed over the northeast heights during the afternoon of July 17th and produced a flash flood in the area along Academy Road. Streets turned to rivers across the area as a localized two inches of rain fell.
• Dust Devils in New Mexico, April 30, 20262 eventsA traveler driving on I-25 observed a large and intense dust devil looking east towards the Sandia Mountains during the early afternoon hours of April 30th. Another large and intense dust devil was observed from a traveler driving in Cochiti Pueblo.
• Dust Devil in New Mexico, September 7, 2000$5,000 · 1 eventA strong dust devil tore off half the roof from a park pavilion in Portales.
• Dust Devil in New Mexico, June 6, 20051 eventA large dust devil tossed lawn furniture about 200 feet.
• Dust Devil in New Mexico, May 9, 20131 eventA warm, dry, and unstable airmass combined with a weak mid level moist layer produced a well defined and large dust devil or landspout tornado hybrid over the Estancia Valley. Numerous pictures were obtained of this feature which garnered signature local media coverage.
• Dust Devil in New Mexico, June 9, 2016$5,000 · 1 eventA short-lived dust devil wreaked havoc in a neighborhood in Rio Rancho during the mid afternoon of the 9th. A spotter reported that the dust devil tore through the backyard and destroyed a fence with four inch posts. Wind speeds are estimated as high as 55 mph.
• Dust Devil in New Mexico, June 1, 2026$10,000 · 1 eventIntense daytime heating resulted in the development of a dust devil in a Rio Rancho neighborhood during the mid afternoon. Video shared by local media showed the dust devil resulted in some minor damage.

Dust Devil everywhereEvery kind of event in New Mexico

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 2026-09-24.