Key facts
- Alert
- Severe Thunderstorm Warning (severe)
- Issued by
- National Weather Service, Albuquerque NM
- Areas
- Cibola, NM; McKinley, NM
- Places
- Zuni Pueblo, Black Rock, Chi Chil Tah
- In effect
- until 3:00 PM MDT, Oct 21, 2026
What the National Weather Service says
“SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM MDT FOR WEST CENTRAL CIBOLA AND SOUTHWESTERN MCKINLEY COUNTIES”
NWS Albuquerque NM, Severe Thunderstorm Warning, 2:37 PM MDT Oct 21, 2026 · official alert
“People and animals outdoors will be injured.”
NWS Albuquerque NM, Severe Thunderstorm Warning, 2:37 PM MDT Oct 21, 2026 · official alert
What to do
Anyone outdoors should move inside a well-built structure now and stay away from windows. The National Weather Service says this storm can produce dangerous hail and damaging winds.
Bring pets and animals indoors if you can do so safely. Do not wait outside to watch the storm.
If you are driving, pull over only where it is safe, or find sturdy shelter. Expect possible hail damage to roofs, siding, windows and vehicles, and wind damage to roofs, siding and trees.
Follow the instructions of local officials and the National Weather Service until the warning ends or is updated.
Context
The warning covers parts of Cibola and McKinley counties. Places named in the warning are Zuni Pueblo, Black Rock and Chi Chil Tah.
FEMA flood-insurance records show 28 claims in Cibola County from 1978 to 2024 and 20 in McKinley County from 1980 to 2026. These counts cover only insured properties, so they understate total flood losses. Both counties have had FEMA disaster declarations for severe storms and flooding, including one in 2013.
Updates
- The severe thunderstorm warning expired at 3:00 PM MDT.
- The National Weather Service updated the severe thunderstorm warning; it remains in effect until 3:00 PM MDT.
- NWS Albuquerque NM issued the severe thunderstorm warning until 3:00 PM MDT.
History here
Cibola County: 28 flood insurance claims in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 1978, most recent 2024.
Cibola County: recent federal disaster declarations
- DR-4152 (2013): severe storms, flooding, and mudslides
- DR-4047 (2011): flooding
- DR-1936 (2010): severe storms and flooding
- DR-1659 (2006): severe storms and flooding
McKinley County: 20 flood insurance claims in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 1980, most recent 2026.
McKinley County: recent federal disaster declarations
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Questions
- Is there a severe thunderstorm warning in Cibola County, New Mexico?
- Yes. The National Weather Service has a severe thunderstorm warning in effect until 3:00 PM MDT for west central Cibola and southwestern McKinley counties.
- How big is the hail in this storm?
- The National Weather Service says the storm can produce golf ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts. The hazard source is radar indicated.
- Where is the storm headed?
- At 2:24 PM MDT the storm was 15 miles southwest of Zuni Pueblo, moving northeast at 40 mph. Locations named in the warning include Zuni Pueblo, Black Rock and Chi Chil Tah.
Sources
- NWS Albuquerque NM: Severe Thunderstorm Warning, Oct 21, 2026 weather.gov
- FEMA OpenFEMA: NFIP claims and disaster declarations fema.gov
How this page is made. The Herebeat Hazard Desk builds event pages from official U.S. government data (National Weather Service, USGS, FEMA). The text is written with AI from that data; every number and quote is checked against the official source automatically before publishing, and the page is updated when the agency updates the event. The official source is always the reference. Spotted a mistake? info@herebeat.app. About the Hazard Desk.