Carlsbad, NM Tornado History — 35 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Carlsbad, NM had?
Carlsbad has had 35 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Carlsbad?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Carlsbad was an EF2 on March 12, 2019.
When is tornado season in Carlsbad?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Carlsbad, with 15 on record. April through June account for 20 of the 35 tornadoes on record near Carlsbad.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Carlsbad
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 5 total, averaging 0.3 per year over this window.
What storm spotters reported near Carlsbad
3 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Carlsbad and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on May 5, 2025 and the most recent on June 5, 2025. They are already counted in the Carlsbad totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
[Landspout] Landspout reported by public via social media at the intersection of Wipp Rd and NM 128. Location of landspout is based on radar and size is approximately (MAF)
[Landspout] Spotter reported landspout west of Loving... NM. (MAF)
[Landspout] Short-lived (less than 2 minutes) landspout observed by the public 5 miles SE of Carlsbad moving north-northeastward around 6:18 PM MDT/7:18 PM CDT. Landsp (MAF)
Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
Tornadoes by Decade
Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating
F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.
Tornadoes by Month
Have any tornadoes near Carlsbad been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Carlsbad from any of the 35 tornadoes since 1950, though 29 injuries have been reported, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Carlsbad
What the record shows near Carlsbad
The 1990s were the busiest decade near Carlsbad, with 15 of the 35 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2010s have produced 3 so far. The Carlsbad record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Carlsbad, 31 reached EF0 or EF1 and 4 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Carlsbad is rated EF2, of which 4 are logged.
Across the last 20 years Carlsbad has averaged 0.3 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 5 in total. 2007 was the busiest of them with 2, and 16 of those years passed with none at all.