Avalanche Risk in New Mexico
All New Mexico counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index avalanche score
Avalanche risk — fast-moving snow and debris sliding down steep mountain slopes — is rated for 29 of 33 New Mexico counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Taos County carries the state's highest avalanche score at 94.0, with $2M in expected annual avalanche losses.
1 New Mexico county is rated High or Very High for avalanche, and expected annual losses from avalanche total roughly $2M statewide. The full ranking below links to each county's complete 18-hazard risk profile.
County Rankings — Avalanche
| # | County | Avalanche Score | Rating | Ann. Freq. | Ann. Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taos County | High | 0.13 / yr | $2M | |
| 2 | Catron County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $368 | |
| 3 | Sierra County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $326 | |
| 4 | Grant County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $320 | |
| 5 | Socorro County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $264 | |
| 6 | Rio Arriba County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $179 | |
| 7 | Doña Ana County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $182 | |
| 8 | Otero County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $162 | |
| 9 | Colfax County | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $126 | |
| 10 | Lincoln County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $123 | |
| 11 | Sandoval County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $147 | |
| 12 | Hidalgo County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $101 | |
| 13 | Torrance County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $59 | |
| 14 | McKinley County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $45 | |
| 15 | San Juan County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $47 | |
| 16 | Santa Fe County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $64 | |
| 17 | San Miguel County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $45 | |
| 18 | Cibola County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $35 | |
| 19 | Luna County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $36 | |
| 20 | Mora County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $28 | |
| 21 | Bernalillo County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $38 | |
| 22 | Eddy County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $33 | |
| 23 | Valencia County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $16 | |
| 24 | Los Alamos County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $11 | |
| 25 | Harding County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $4 | |
| 26 | Quay County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $1 | |
| 27 | Union County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $1 | |
| 28 | Chaves County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $1 | |
| 29 | Guadalupe County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $0 |
29 New Mexico counties with measurable avalanche risk. See the national avalanche ranking or all New Mexico counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which New Mexico county has the highest avalanche risk?
Taos County has the highest FEMA avalanche risk score in New Mexico at 94.0 (High), with $2M in expected annual losses and about 0.13 events per year.
How many New Mexico counties face significant avalanche risk?
29 New Mexico counties record measurable avalanche risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 1 of them are rated High or Very High.