Health & Safety
United States · Direct U.S. connection
NWS Issues Tornado Watch for Four New Mexico Counties
Tornado Watch 693, covering Catron, Cibola, McKinley, and San Juan counties in New Mexico, is in effect until 9 PM MDT Thursday due to potential severe thunderstorms.
Updated
Share this article
THE PRIMARY BRIEF
- 01 · The primary finding
A tornado watch was issued for four counties in New Mexico by the National Weather Service.
- 02 · The primary evidence
NWS Albuquerque issued Tornado Watch 693 on October 22, 2026, effective until 9 PM MDT, for Catron, Cibola, McKinley, and San Juan counties. Independent news sources corroborated the issuance of Tornado Watch 693 for parts of New Mexico on the same date. NWS forecasts for the region highlighted a slight risk of severe thunderstorms, including potential tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail for the affected areas.
- 03 · Why it matters
Residents and communities in the designated New Mexico counties are advised to remain vigilant for severe weather conditions, including the potential for tornadoes, which can pose significant risks to public safety and property.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, issued Tornado Watch 693 on Thursday, October 22, 2026, for four counties in the state. The watch, active from 2:39 PM MDT, remains in effect until 9:00 PM MDT.
The affected counties in New Mexico include San Juan in the northwest, and Catron, Cibola, and McKinley in west-central parts of the state. Cities and locations covered by the watch include Crownpoint, Datil, Farmington, Gallup, Grants, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Reserve, and Zuni Pueblo.
Independent reports also confirmed the tornado watch, noting it covered parts of New Mexico until 9 PM MDT on Thursday, October 22, with potential for tornadoes, large hail, and damaging wind gusts. This alert indicated the possibility of a few tornadoes, scattered hail up to 2 inches in diameter, and scattered wind gusts reaching 70 mph. Gallup, a city within the watch area, was specifically mentioned in these reports.
Forecasts from NWS Albuquerque indicated that showers and thunderstorms would spread northeast across western New Mexico throughout Thursday afternoon and evening. These storms were expected to be severe. Main hazards included damaging wind gusts up to 60 mph and hail larger than one inch in diameter, with a possibility of one or two tornadoes. The NWS assessed a "Slight Risk" for severe storms across western New Mexico during this period.
SHOW YOUR WORK