A high-end EF-1 tornado struck midtown Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Saturday night. The storm damaged 10 homes, uprooted trees, and knocked down power infrastructure, according to the National Weather Service. This rare severe weather event left residents assessing significant property damage. Emergency responders quickly checked neighborhoods for injuries and coordinated recovery efforts.
The National Weather Service reported that the tornado’s track extended about 1.4 miles long and up to 100 yards wide. The storm path began in the Via Caballero neighborhood in southern Santa Fe, just north of Interstate 25. It moved northward before dissipating near the College of Santa Fe. Damage was heavy along Rancho Siringo Road and Camino Chueco. In these areas, residents faced broken power poles, fallen trees, and severely damaged homes.
Storm Impact and Resident Accounts
Local residents reported sudden and terrifying conditions as the tornado swept through the area around 7:00 p.m. Gary Delgado, a resident on Camino Chueco, watched the storm approach before taking shelter inside with his wife. Within seconds, the twister tore apart a guest bedroom, partially collapsed his roof, scattered patio furniture, and snapped a backyard fence.
Another resident, David Martinez, heard a sound resembling a jet engine as the tornado tore through his backyard on Rancho Siringo Road. The storm ripped his family’s electrical box off the exterior wall. City officials, including spokesperson Peter Olson, noted that the twister was exceptionally rare for municipal limits. City personnel could not recall any prior tornado touchdown in the area.
Emergency Response and Ongoing Recovery
City emergency management personnel, American Red Cross staff, and crews from the Public Service Company of New Mexico and New Mexico Gas Co. deployed to the affected neighborhoods. They evaluated structural damage and worked to restore utilities. Mayor Michael Garcia urged people who do not live in the area to stay away. This allowed emergency responders and volunteers to operate without obstruction.
Residents who need help with debris clean-up or storm-related concerns can contact the city’s Constituent Services Team at 505-955-6949. Community resources for power outages, gas outages, or transportation are available by calling 211.
Broader Weather Context Across New Mexico
Saturday’s tornado arrived during a period of widespread severe weather, heavy rainfall, and flooding threats across New Mexico. San Juan County experienced severe flooding that required water rescues near Farmington and Bloomfield. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service issued flash flood watches for much of Northern New Mexico. These watches covered Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, Los Alamos, and Taos counties as showers and thunderstorms continued across the region.
