Colfax County rain, outlook and forecast
The Oct 27 U.S. Drought Monitor map shows most of Colfax County, NM in severe drought (D2), with a sliver (<1%) at extreme drought (D3); week 33 in a row with some severe drought (D2) or worse. Over 90 days rain is at 144% of normal, and the last 30 days came in at 278% (well above normal); today carries the week's highest rain chance at 91% (high 67°) and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 7–11 leans toward near-normal rain. FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Colfax County with up to 5 monthly payments, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is La Junta LJLC, 108 miles away.
Rain vs normal
- Last 30 days 278% of normal
- Last 60 days 233% of normal
- Last 90 days 144% of normal
NOAA river forecast center rain (radar plus gauges) at the county center, Nov 1, 2026. Source.
Rain outlook
- 6-10 day outlook (Nov 7–11) Leans toward near-normal rain
- 8-14 day outlook (Nov 9–15) Leans toward near-normal rain
NOAA Climate Prediction Center precipitation outlook, issued Nov 1, 2026. Source.
Next 7 days
- Today Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms, high 67°, low 42°, 91% rain, wind 10–30 mph
- Monday Sunny, high 59°, low 34°, 13% rain, wind 5–25 mph
- Tuesday Sunny, high 61°, low 29°, 1% rain, wind 5–10 mph
- Wednesday Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 61°, low 31°, 24% rain, wind 5–10 mph
- Thursday Sunny, high 58°, low 29°, 2% rain, wind 5–10 mph
- Friday Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 58°, low 30°, 19% rain, wind 0–5 mph
- Saturday Chance Rain Showers, high 57°, low 29°, 26% rain, wind 5–10 mph
National Weather Service forecast for the county center, updated Nov 1, 2026. Wind, warnings and burn bans.
Open loss windows
No open loss windows in Colfax County right now. A 30-day window opens when the county first hits severe drought (D2), jumps to D3 or D4, or after a blizzard, extreme heat or cold, flood or ice warning, a wildfire, or a USDA disaster designation. Keep a Drought Ledger.
Information only; not financial, tax or legal advice. FSA decides eligibility. Cownty sends nothing to FSA.
Drought-sale tax flag IRS list
Colfax County is on IRS Notice 2026-54 (severe or worse drought, Sep 1, 2025 to Aug 31, 2026).
Why it matters: if you sold breeding, dairy or draft livestock because of drought, the tax code may let you put off the gain (more time to buy replacement animals, or report the extra-sale income a year later). Your tax preparer decides whether either applies.
Work out your numbers and print a page for your preparer
Information only; not financial, tax or legal advice. Ask your tax preparer. FSA decides program eligibility. IRS Notice 2026-54 (PDF)
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Weather for Colfax County
Forecast for the center point of Colfax County.
- Severe Thunderstorm Watch
- Wind Advisory
- Freeze on 5 nights
- Windy on 2 days
- Today Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms 67° 42° S 10–30 mph 91% rain
- Mon Sunny 59° 34° W 5–25 mph 13% rain
- Tue Sunny 61° 29° NE 5–10 mph 1% rain
- Wed Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers 61° 31° SW 5–10 mph 24% rain
- Thu Sunny 58° 29° NE 5–10 mph 2% rain
- Fri Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers 58° 30° SE 0–5 mph 19% rain
- Sat Chance Rain Showers 57° 29° N 5–10 mph 26% rain
Forecast from the National Weather Service, updated Nov 1, 2026. Wind arrows point where the wind is going; the letters say where it comes from. Windy = 25 mph or more; freeze = a low of 32°F or less. Open the full forecast.
Burn ban
No official ban list to check here, so Cownty shows the National Weather Service fire-weather alerts for the county instead: none right now. State fire-restrictions page.
Weather warnings right now
- Wind Advisory Moderate
Wind Advisory issued November 1 at 11:40AM MST until November 2 at 5:00AM MST by NWS Albuquerque NM - Wind Advisory Moderate
Wind Advisory issued November 1 at 11:40AM MST until November 2 at 5:00AM MST by NWS Albuquerque NM - Severe Thunderstorm Watch Severe
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued November 1 at 4:11PM MST until November 1 at 9:00PM MST by NWS Albuquerque NM
National Weather Service active alerts for this county, as of Nov 1, 2026 (source). Fetched Nov 1, 2026.
Rainfall vs normal
How to read this
Bars are the rain that fell each month; the dashed line is a normal month (1991-2020 average). Bars below the line = drier than normal.
County-average precipitation, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026. Normal = NCEI's own 1991-2020 average for each month (Sep 2026 normal 1.77 in; same month last year 1.45 in). NCEI posts each month around the 8th of the next and may revise recent months. Source: NOAA NCEI Climate at a Glance. Fetched Oct 30, 2026.
Wildfires
No current fire perimeter in the county
Nearest current perimeter: Frijoles (Wildfire, NM), about 77 mi from the county center; 15,949 acres, 100% contained, perimeter of Sep 14, 2026.
Interagency fire outlines. Small or brand-new fires are often not mapped yet; call 911 for a fire you can see. Layer updated Nov 1, 2026. Source: National Interagency Fire Center. Fetched Nov 1, 2026.
Frost dates
Frost and freeze dates
30-year averages (1991–2020) from the weather stations nearest Colfax County. Frost = 32°F; hard freeze = 28°F.
Cimarron 4 Sw weather station (20 mi away)
| Typical last spring frost | Typical first fall frost | |
|---|---|---|
| Frost (32°F) 143-day growing season |
May 11 1 year in 10 it's after May 25 |
Oct 3 1 year in 10 it's before Sep 21 |
| Hard freeze (28°F) 163-day growing season |
May 1 1 year in 10 it's after May 13 |
Oct 12 1 year in 10 it's before Sep 30 |
Raton Krtn Radio weather station (22 mi away)
| Typical last spring frost | Typical first fall frost | |
|---|---|---|
| Frost (32°F) 132-day growing season |
May 19 1 year in 10 it's after Jun 2 |
Sep 29 1 year in 10 it's before Sep 18 |
| Hard freeze (28°F) 152-day growing season |
May 7 1 year in 10 it's after May 20 |
Oct 6 1 year in 10 it's before Sep 24 |
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Cimarron 4 Sw, Raton Krtn Radio), NOAA files as of Jun 27, 2023. Fetched Oct 18, 2026.
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Common questions and nearby counties
Is Colfax County eligible for LFP in 2026?
Yes. Colfax County is on FSA's 2026 Livestock Forage Disaster Program county list, with up to 5 monthly payments for some pasture types. FSA decides each operation's eligibility; apply at your county FSA office by March 1 after the loss year.
What is the drought level in Colfax County this week?
On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 2026, most of Colfax County was in severe drought (D2), and the worst part was extreme drought (D3) on a sliver (<1%) of the county. 33 straight weeks with some severe drought (D2) or worse.
Is there a burn ban in Colfax County?
No official statewide list to check: this county is not on the official New Mexico state map; check the county's own fire-restriction notices.
What sale barns are near Colfax County?
The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: La Junta LJLC (108 mi), last report Oct 28, 2026; La Junta Winter (113 mi), last report Oct 27, 2026; Dalhart (122 mi), last report Oct 29, 2026.
Source: USDA AMS Market News reports
What are the upcoming FSA and farm deadlines?
Next: Nov 10, 2026: First half of property taxes due to the county treasurer; Nov 20, 2026: Micro Farm 2027: last day to buy crop insurance. FSA program dates not posted officially are marked "confirm at source" on the calendar.
Source: official agency pages (see Calendar)
Information only; not financial or legal advice. FSA decides eligibility. Always check the linked official source.