South Valley, NM Tornado History — 28 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has South Valley, NM had?
South Valley has had 28 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near South Valley?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of South Valley was an Unrated on August 19, 2025.
When is tornado season in South Valley?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near South Valley, with 8 on record. Spring through early summer (April–June) generally sees the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near South Valley
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 8 total, averaging 0.4 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near South Valley since December 29, 2025
These is a preliminary report, not confirmed tornadoes. It has not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and is not counted in the confirmed totals above.
Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.
Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.
Within 25 miles of South Valley. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
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
Casualties on Record Near South Valley
1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of South Valley since 1950, across 1 event. 8 injuries have been reported across all events. 1974 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was a F2 on October 10, 1974, which caused 1 fatality along a 2.0-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near South Valley
About Tornadoes in South Valley
This overview was written April 23, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
South Valley, New Mexico has experienced 28 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. The majority of these events have been relatively weak, with 19 rated EF0 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage. Three tornadoes reached EF1 intensity, two achieved EF2 status, and four remain unrated in historical records.
Tornado activity in the area has varied considerably by decade. The 1980s saw the highest count with five tornadoes, while the 1950s recorded four events. The 2020s have already produced seven tornadoes through 2025, suggesting increased detection and reporting capabilities in recent years. The 2010s marked a notable lull with only a single tornado documented during that ten-year span.
May has been the peak month for tornado occurrence near South Valley, with seven events recorded during this period. This aligns with broader springtime severe weather patterns across the region, when atmospheric conditions more frequently support rotating thunderstorms. The most recent tornado occurred on August 19, 2025, an unrated event with a 0.7-mile path length and maximum width of 40 yards that caused no injuries or property damage.
The deadliest tornado on record struck on October 10, 1974, an F2-intensity storm that tragically claimed one life and caused $275,000 in property damage along a two-mile path. The costliest tornado occurred on September 13, 1988, an F1 event that also resulted in $275,000 in damages despite its brief 0.2-mile track. The longest-tracked tornado traveled 15.8 miles on May 25, 1956, while the widest reached 167 yards on July 6, 1966. Overall, the historical record indicates that while tornadoes do occur in the South Valley area, the vast majority have been weak and short-lived events.