Drought Risk in New Mexico
All New Mexico counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index drought score
Drought risk — extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture — is rated for 31 of 33 New Mexico counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Doña Ana County carries the state's highest drought score at 99.4, with $11M in expected annual drought losses.
7 New Mexico counties are rated High or Very High for drought, and expected annual losses from drought total roughly $43M statewide. The full ranking below links to each county's complete 18-hazard risk profile.
County Rankings — Drought
| # | County | Drought Score | Rating | Ann. Freq. | Ann. Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Doña Ana County | High | 73.79 / yr | $11M | |
| 2 | San Juan County | High | 108.04 / yr | $5M | |
| 3 | Chaves County | High | 143.74 / yr | $5M | |
| 4 | Luna County | High | 117.13 / yr | $3M | |
| 5 | Curry County | High | 103.53 / yr | $4M | |
| 6 | Roosevelt County | High | 110.44 / yr | $3M | |
| 7 | Union County | High | 160.17 / yr | $1M | |
| 8 | Quay County | Medium | 108.41 / yr | $1M | |
| 9 | Lea County | Medium | 115.37 / yr | $993K | |
| 10 | Santa Fe County | Medium | 102.85 / yr | $1M | |
| 11 | Eddy County | Medium | 127.38 / yr | $1M | |
| 12 | Hidalgo County | Medium | 124.62 / yr | $864K | |
| 13 | Torrance County | Medium | 109.40 / yr | $699K | |
| 14 | De Baca County | Medium | 115.28 / yr | $707K | |
| 15 | Otero County | Medium | 112.94 / yr | $587K | |
| 16 | Sierra County | Medium | 74.87 / yr | $378K | |
| 17 | Sandoval County | Medium | 127.10 / yr | $528K | |
| 18 | Socorro County | Medium | 75.62 / yr | $335K | |
| 19 | Rio Arriba County | Medium | 106.28 / yr | $326K | |
| 20 | Taos County | Low | 110.59 / yr | $241K | |
| 21 | Mora County | Low | 146.61 / yr | $194K | |
| 22 | Bernalillo County | Low | 65.60 / yr | $234K | |
| 23 | Valencia County | Low | 53.49 / yr | $174K | |
| 24 | San Miguel County | Low | 114.95 / yr | $89K | |
| 25 | Colfax County | Low | 163.31 / yr | $40K | |
| 26 | Guadalupe County | Low | 129.97 / yr | $40K | |
| 27 | Grant County | Low | 100.86 / yr | $37K | |
| 28 | Cibola County | Very Low | 78.04 / yr | $8K | |
| 29 | Catron County | Very Low | 105.90 / yr | $6K | |
| 30 | Harding County | Very Low | 109.46 / yr | $6K | |
| 31 | Lincoln County | Very Low | 108.21 / yr | $2K |
31 New Mexico counties with measurable drought risk. See the national drought ranking or all New Mexico counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which New Mexico county has the highest drought risk?
Doña Ana County has the highest FEMA drought risk score in New Mexico at 99.4 (High), with $11M in expected annual losses and about 73.79 events per year.
How many New Mexico counties face significant drought risk?
31 New Mexico counties record measurable drought risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 7 of them are rated High or Very High.