Tornadoes in Lea County
The Storm Prediction Center records 97 tornadoes whose paths touched Lea County, New Mexico between 1954 and 2024. None of them is recorded as having killed anyone. The busiest month is May, with 40 tornadoes. The strongest was an F3 on 17 May 1954. The most recent was on 2 November 2024.
- 97tornadoes
- 0deaths
- 8injuries
- 221per 10,000 sq mi of land
A tornado that crossed several counties counts in each one, so county counts add up to more than the state's.
How strong were the tornadoes in Lea County?
| Rating | Tornadoes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| F0 / EF0 | 65 | 67% |
| F1 / EF1 | 19 | 20% |
| F2 / EF2 | 8 | 8% |
| F3 / EF3 | 1 | 1% |
| F4 / EF4 | 0 | 0% |
| F5 / EF5 | 0 | 0% |
| Unknown rating | 4 | 4% |
Lea County tornadoes over time
The 2020s only run to 2024, so that bar is for a shorter period. The record starts in 1950.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 9 |
| 1960s | 13 |
| 1970s | 14 |
| 1980s | 19 |
| 1990s | 33 |
| 2000s | 4 |
| 2010s | 1 |
| 2020s | 4 |
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 0 |
| Feb | 0 |
| Mar | 4 |
| Apr | 10 |
| May | 40 |
| Jun | 25 |
| Jul | 6 |
| Aug | 6 |
| Sep | 2 |
| Oct | 2 |
| Nov | 2 |
| Dec | 0 |
Records for Lea County
- Strongest: New Mexico tornado17 May 1954, F3, 0.1 miles long
- Longest path: Texas tornado10 April 1969, F1, 2 injuries, 19.4 miles long
- Most recent: New Mexico tornado2 November 2024, Unknown rating, 6.3 miles long
Many of these tornadoes killed or injured people. The numbers are the official record's, and they may be revised.