Floyd, New Mexico – A tornado that tore through rural Roosevelt County on Saturday evening snapped dozens of power poles and damaged a dairy facility, but narrowly missed more vulnerable structures.
According to the National Weather Service in Albuquerque, the EF-1 tornado touched down around 5:20 p.m. MDT on May 25, about 3 miles southwest of Floyd, tracking northeast for 5.2 miles. Wind speeds peaked at 90 mph, and the storm reached a maximum width of 300 yards before lifting at 5:37 p.m. near Roosevelt Road 2 and a dairy farm.
Damage surveys show the tornado snapped more than 30 power poles, including 10 to 15 near NM-267, and another 20 along Roosevelt Road 3. The most intense damage occurred along this stretch, with clear EF-1 indicators. Minor damage was also reported to fencing and metal roofing at the dairy, along with a mangled farm sprinkler system.
Residents in rural areas are urged to have weather radios or mobile alerts active, as tornadoes can strike with little warning. This was the most significant severe weather event in Roosevelt County so far this spring.
No injuries were reported, but the NWS warns more spring storms are possible this week across eastern New Mexico.
