Lightning Risk in New Mexico
All New Mexico counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index lightning score
Lightning risk — electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties — is rated for 33 of 33 New Mexico counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Bernalillo County carries the state's highest lightning score at 97.4, with $3M in expected annual lightning losses.
17 New Mexico counties are rated High or Very High for lightning, and expected annual losses from lightning total roughly $21M statewide. The full ranking below links to each county's complete 18-hazard risk profile.
County Rankings — Lightning
| # | County | Lightning Score | Rating | Ann. Freq. | Ann. Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bernalillo County | Very High | 59.77 / yr | $3M | |
| 2 | Doña Ana County | Very High | 52.09 / yr | $2M | |
| 3 | San Juan County | High | 50.25 / yr | $1M | |
| 4 | Rio Arriba County | High | 65.43 / yr | $1M | |
| 5 | McKinley County | High | 54.72 / yr | $938K | |
| 6 | Santa Fe County | High | 68.06 / yr | $1M | |
| 7 | Otero County | High | 60.95 / yr | $1M | |
| 8 | Cibola County | High | 60.60 / yr | $769K | |
| 9 | Lea County | High | 47.53 / yr | $999K | |
| 10 | Sandoval County | High | 65.14 / yr | $1M | |
| 11 | Valencia County | High | 57.70 / yr | $913K | |
| 12 | Taos County | High | 70.00 / yr | $696K | |
| 13 | Chaves County | High | 50.84 / yr | $753K | |
| 14 | Colfax County | High | 68.48 / yr | $639K | |
| 15 | Lincoln County | High | 59.22 / yr | $639K | |
| 16 | Socorro County | High | 60.90 / yr | $498K | |
| 17 | Catron County | High | 64.90 / yr | $490K | |
| 18 | Grant County | Medium | 65.23 / yr | $446K | |
| 19 | Eddy County | Medium | 48.11 / yr | $582K | |
| 20 | Sierra County | Medium | 59.64 / yr | $318K | |
| 21 | San Miguel County | Medium | 62.40 / yr | $300K | |
| 22 | Luna County | Medium | 52.45 / yr | $230K | |
| 23 | Curry County | Medium | 49.89 / yr | $294K | |
| 24 | Torrance County | Low | 60.04 / yr | $142K | |
| 25 | Union County | Low | 54.76 / yr | $136K | |
| 26 | Hidalgo County | Low | 53.77 / yr | $131K | |
| 27 | Roosevelt County | Low | 50.26 / yr | $132K | |
| 28 | Quay County | Low | 50.53 / yr | $96K | |
| 29 | Los Alamos County | Low | 69.14 / yr | $287K | |
| 30 | Mora County | Low | 67.83 / yr | $61K | |
| 31 | Guadalupe County | Very Low | 56.31 / yr | $50K | |
| 32 | De Baca County | Very Low | 51.62 / yr | $17K | |
| 33 | Harding County | Very Low | 55.83 / yr | $12K |
33 New Mexico counties with measurable lightning risk. See the national lightning ranking or all New Mexico counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which New Mexico county has the highest lightning risk?
Bernalillo County has the highest FEMA lightning risk score in New Mexico at 97.4 (Very High), with $3M in expected annual losses and about 59.77 events per year.
How many New Mexico counties face significant lightning risk?
33 New Mexico counties record measurable lightning risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 17 of them are rated High or Very High.