Lightning in New Mexico

Events

70

Deaths

13

Injuries

52

Damage

$872,000

• Lightning Strike in New Mexico, August 8, 19962 deaths · 1 eventTwo employees of Lea County Co-op Electric were killed by lightning while attempting to repair lines that had been disabled during a previous storm.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in New Mexico, August 1, 20151 death · $193,000 · 1 in hail · 7 eventsStrong to severe thunderstorms moved slowly over portions of northern and eastern New Mexico during the afternoon and evening of the 1st.
• Flash Flood and Lightning Strike in New Mexico, July 4, 20091 death · 6 injured · $2,000 · 2 eventsMonsoonal moisture was responsible for a thunderstorm with heavy rain west of Santa Fe, which resulted in water flowing out of an arroyo at a height of two feet. Lightning from a thunderstorm in Rio Rancho struck and killed a 26 year old man.
• Flash Flood and Hail in New Mexico, May 22, 20141 death · 1 injured · $20,000 · 1 in hail · 13 eventsA slow-moving upper level low pressure system over the Great Basin pulled abundant moisture north and west into New Mexico.
• Lightning Strike in New Mexico, August 3, 19971 death · 2 injured · 1 eventA 41 year old man hiking near the summit of Santa Fe Baldy (12600 ft) was killed by lightning. The man's 12 year old son and another hiker were knocked down by the lightning but only slightly injured.
• Hail and Lightning Strike in New Mexico, May 15 to 16, 20151 death · 1 injured · 1 in hail · 4 eventsThe slow-moving upper level storm system responsible for isolated strong thunderstorms over New Mexico on the 14th edged closer to New Mexico on the 15th.
• Lightning Strike in New Mexico, August 2, 20031 death · 1 injured · 1 eventA 16 year female attending a church leadership outing in the Chuska Mountains died one day after being struck by lightning. A 15 year old male also sustained minor injuries.
• Flash Flood and Lightning Strike in New Mexico, August 7, 20161 death · 2 eventsAbundant moisture and strong afternoon heating resulted in another round of numerous showers and thunderstorms with localized torrential rainfall.
• Damaging Wind and Lightning Strike in New Mexico, July 15, 20171 death · 54 kt wind · 2 eventsA thunderstorm that developed near Socorro shortly before 5 pm produced an intense lightning strike that resulted in an indirect fatality of an elderly woman.
• Lightning Strike in New Mexico, August 14, 19961 death · 1 eventA man, 32, was struck and immediately killed by lightning during a dry thunderstorm over the Northeast Heights section of Albuquerque.
• Lightning Strike in New Mexico, May 20, 19971 death · 1 eventA rancher was struck and instantly killed by lightning northwest of Tres Piedras. The man and his 13 year old son were mending fence on open range and took shelter from a thunderstorm under isolated, but separate trees. The son was not injured.
• Lightning Strike in New Mexico, August 30, 20091 death · $1,000 · 1 eventA thunderstorm over northwest Catron County produced cloud to ground lightning. One of the lightning strikes struck a man who was standing under a 30 foot tall tree to get out of the rain.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in New Mexico, July 6 to 7, 2021$2.4 million · 1 in hail · 11 eventsThe area of high pressure that had been centered over the Four Corners shifted slightly westward on July 6, 2021. Meanwhile, low level return flow continued which aided in keeping moisture values high across New Mexico.
• Flash Flood and Hail in New Mexico, August 12 to 13, 20041 injured · $750,000 · 1 in hail · 6 eventsA linear bow-shaped complex of severe storms swept southeast across Eddy County during the late evening of the 12th. These storms resulted in widespread wind damage as they affected Carlsbad, Loving, and Malaga.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in New Mexico, July 26, 2018$1.1 million · 55 kt wind · 6 eventsA back door cold front that shifted southwest through eastern New Mexico on the 25th provided a reinforcing blast of low level moisture for the Rio Grande Valley on the 26th.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in New Mexico, May 25, 2013$802,000 · 52 kt wind · 7 eventsAn upper level disturbance had moved over the area, and moisture was present. This led to the development of thunderstorms across Southeast New Mexico which resulted in severe wind gusts.
• Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in New Mexico, June 26 to 27, 2024$510,000 · EF0 · 9 eventsRecord levels of monsoon moisture remained in place across NM as an upper level disturbance approached from the west and pushed the upper level high over the state south into New Mexico.
• Flash Flooding and Lightning Strike in New Mexico, July 16, 2014$235,000 · 5 eventsJust after midnight on the morning of the 16th, a line of strong storms crossed south eastward across Interstate 40 near Santa Rosa. This storm produced two lightning strikes that hit a rest area and gas station causing power failures.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in New Mexico, August 21, 2020$132,000 · 1 in hail · 5 eventsWith an area of high pressure centered near the Four Corners, drier air began to move into western New Mexico. Meanwhile, an upper-level trough that moved through northeastern New Mexico provided the lift necessary for a round of afternoon thunderstorms.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in New Mexico, August 8, 2015$100,000 · 54 kt wind · 6 eventsA cluster of slow-moving thunderstorms developed between Cannon Air Force Base and Clovis during the late afternoon hours.
• Lightning Strike in New Mexico, August 3, 2001$100,000 · 1 eventA lightning strike fried an entire pumping system on the Rio Rancho city water reservoir. The 7.5 million gallon reservoir dropped to less than 600 thousand gallons before the pump system was restored.
• Lightning Strike in New Mexico, August 19, 20146 injured · 1 eventTypical monsoon moisture over the region resulted in some weak showers and thunderstorms to develop. The initial lightning strike from a storm in Las Cruces resulted in 6 people being injured during football practice.
• Lightning Strike in New Mexico, September 17, 1996$70,000 · 1 eventA fire started by lightning caused heavy damaged to a home in Taylor Ranch.
• Lightning Strike in New Mexico, July 9, 1996$60,000 · 1 eventA lightning caused fire destroyed the home of an 80 year old woman who suffered smoke inhalation.
• Lightning Strike in New Mexico, August 22, 1996$50,000 · 1 eventA fire started by lightning destroyed a home in Cebolla.

Lightning 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.