Santa Fe Storm Damage as New Mexico Faces Flood Recovery and More Rain
WHO:
KOAT - The National Weather Service rated the Santa Fe tornado a high-end EF-1.
The Guardian - New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said law enforcement reported hundreds of water rescues between Farmington and Bloomfield.
The Guardian - San Juan County Sheriff Shane Ferrari said about 4 feet (1 meter) of water flooded his home.
The Guardian - San Juan County spokesperson Devin Neeley said officials lacked official figures for home damage and evacuations, and he knew of no deaths.
KOAT - Santa Fe Police reported damaged homes, struck gas lines, uprooted trees and downed power lines in the Los Cedros and Camino Carlos Ray neighborhoods.
KOAT - San Juan County resident Adriannah Romero described her family’s evacuation; Emmeri Ortega, the county’s only 211 operator, organized volunteers to answer community helpline calls.
KOAT - Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said the Nation’s response to Shiprock’s flood damage would take several weeks and that he was working with lawmakers on proposed disaster-relief legislation.
WHAT:
KOAT - The tornado damaged 10 homes, broke power poles and uprooted trees; no injuries were reported.
KOAT - The tornado’s track was 1.4 miles long and up to 100 yards wide.
KOAT - Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said the Nation’s response would continue for several weeks.
The Guardian - The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for much of the Four Corners as another round of heavy showers and thunderstorms was expected.
The Guardian - The San Juan River at Farmington reached 2 feet above its previous record, set in 1909. No deaths had been reported.
The Guardian - Receding floodwaters left mud and silt contaminated with sewage after waste-plant failures; power outages affected multiple areas, with restoration expected to take a few days.
KOAT - A tornado warning was issued for Santa Fe during severe storms. A shelter-in-place order was lifted; crews and police urged caution as recovery work began.
KOAT - San Juan County officials reported 200 to 300 rescues completed, with crews continuing door-to-door checks and evacuations. Officials warned people not to return to evacuated areas because no re-entry plan was in place.
KOAT - Nygren said he was working on legislation to allocate $10 million for Navajo Nation disaster relief.
WHERE:
KOAT - The tornado developed in the Via Caballero neighborhood, north of Interstate 25, and lifted near the College of Santa Fe. Damage was along Rancho Siringo and Camino Chueco Roads.
The Guardian - Flooding affected the Four Corners region, including Farmington, Bloomfield and San Juan County, New Mexico; the Four Corners meet in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah.
KOAT - Storm damage was reported in Santa Fe, including Rancho Siringo and Camino Chueco; flooding affected Shiprock and other San Juan County communities.
KOAT - Romero’s family evacuated to an Airbnb on high ground in Farmington.
WHEN:
The Guardian - The articles describe storms and flooding continuing through Saturday, with further storms expected Sunday.
KOAT - Santa Fe crews planned to clear debris and downed power lines Sunday morning; the San Juan River was expected to surge overnight.
WHY:
The Guardian - The flooding followed months of intermittent heavy rain associated with tropical moisture coming ashore from the Pacific.
KOAT - Runoff from washes after thunderstorms was expected to cause another surge on the San Juan River.
HOW:
KOAT - Romero said her family initially stayed despite evacuation notifications, then left after water entered the home and a neighbor urged them to go. Her father placed the children on parked cars above the water and returned for essentials.
KOAT - Officials asked the public to stay out of evacuated zones because trespassers divert emergency crews from rescue work.
(UPDATED October 26, 2026 07:29 UTC)
Severe storms brought a high-end EF-1 tornado to Santa Fe and record flooding across New Mexico’s Four Corners region. The tornado damaged 10 homes, broke power poles and uprooted trees, but no injuries were reported. In San Juan County, officials said crews completed 200 to 300 water rescues, while door-to-door checks and evacuations continued. The San Juan River at Farmington rose 2 feet above its previous record, set in 1909. Floodwaters left sewage-contaminated mud and silt, and power outages were expected to take a few days to resolve. Officials urged people to stay out of evacuated areas, saying no re-entry plan was in place and trespassers could divert rescue crews. Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said recovery in Shiprock would take several weeks and that he was working on legislation to provide $10 million in disaster relief.
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(UPDATED October 25, 2026 21:59 UTC)
Flooding across New Mexico’s Four Corners region has prompted hundreds of rescues, while the San Juan River at Farmington rose 2 feet above its previous record. Officials reported 200 to 300 rescues in San Juan County, with crews still checking homes and carrying out evacuations. Residents were warned not to return to evacuated areas, because unauthorized entry diverts emergency workers. Floodwaters damaged homes in Shiprock and other communities, while Santa Fe saw damaged houses, broken gas lines, uprooted trees and downed power lines. As the water receded, it left sewage-contaminated mud and silt, and outages could take a few days to resolve. County officials had no confirmed totals for damage or evacuations, but knew of no deaths. Another round of storms was expected, with runoff potentially driving the river higher. Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said recovery in Shiprock could take several weeks and proposed $10 million in disaster relief.