Otero County rain, outlook and forecast
As of the Oct 27 Drought Monitor, most of Otero County, NM was abnormally dry (D0), with 23% at severe drought (D2); week 32 in a row with some severe drought (D2) or worse. Otero County has had 226% of its normal rain in the past 30 days and 192% over 90 days, so the past month has been wetter than the season so far; today carries the week's highest rain chance at 77% (high 69°) and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 7–11 leans wetter than normal (33% chance of above-normal rain). Otero County is on FSA's 2026 LFP list with up to 4 monthly payments, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is Santa Teresa, 74 miles away.
Rain vs normal
- Last 30 days 226% of normal
- Last 60 days 274% of normal
- Last 90 days 192% 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 wetter than normal (33% chance of above-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 Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, high 69°, low 50°, 77% rain, wind 12–29 mph
- Monday Mostly Sunny, high 61°, low 42°, 14% rain, wind 7–31 mph
- Tuesday Sunny, high 60°, low 42°, 0% rain, wind 3–7 mph
- Wednesday Sunny, high 64°, low 44°, 0% rain, wind 3–13 mph
- Thursday Sunny, high 64°, low 43°, 0% rain, wind 5–12 mph
- Friday Mostly Sunny, high 62°, low 44°, 18% rain, wind 5–8 mph
- Saturday Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 62°, low 41°, 19% rain, wind 8–13 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 Otero 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
Otero 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 Otero County
Forecast for the center point of Otero County.
- High Wind Warning
- Windy on 2 days
- Today Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 69° 50° S 12–29 mph 77% rain
- Mon Mostly Sunny 61° 42° W 7–31 mph 14% rain
- Tue Sunny 60° 42° SSE 3–7 mph 0% rain
- Wed Sunny 64° 44° SSW 3–13 mph 0% rain
- Thu Sunny 64° 43° WNW 5–12 mph 0% rain
- Fri Mostly Sunny 62° 44° SW 5–8 mph 18% rain
- Sat Slight Chance Rain Showers 62° 41° NW 8–13 mph 19% 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 state restrictions
Smoking, campfires without use of a metal ring
New Mexico Forestry Division (state forester) restrictions for non-municipal, non-federal, non-Tribal land in Otero County (source), as of Oct 6, 2026. County rules and federal-land rules are separate; check with the county before burning. Fetched Nov 1, 2026.
Weather warnings right now
- High Wind Warning Severe
High Wind Warning issued November 1 at 9:21AM MST until November 2 at 4:00PM MST by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa 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 1.94 in; same month last year 2.16 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
No current perimeter within 100 mi of the county center (83 mapped nationally).
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 Otero County. Frost = 32°F; hard freeze = 28°F.
Cloudcroft weather station (23 mi away)
| Typical last spring frost | Typical first fall frost | |
|---|---|---|
| Frost (32°F) 134-day growing season |
May 18 1 year in 10 it's after Jun 1 |
Oct 1 1 year in 10 it's before Sep 18 |
| Hard freeze (28°F) 159-day growing season |
May 5 1 year in 10 it's after May 16 |
Oct 13 1 year in 10 it's before Sep 29 |
Mtn Park weather station (24 mi away)
| Typical last spring frost | Typical first fall frost | |
|---|---|---|
| Frost (32°F) 173-day growing season |
Apr 30 1 year in 10 it's after May 15 |
Oct 21 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 9 |
| Hard freeze (28°F) 193-day growing season |
Apr 20 1 year in 10 it's after May 5 |
Oct 30 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 14 |
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Cloudcroft, Mtn Park), NOAA files as of Jun 27, 2023. Fetched Oct 18, 2026.
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Common questions and nearby counties
Is Otero County eligible for LFP in 2026?
Yes. Otero County is on FSA's 2026 Livestock Forage Disaster Program county list, with up to 4 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 Otero County this week?
On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 2026, most of Otero County was in abnormally dry (D0), and the worst part was severe drought (D2) on 23% of the county. 32 straight weeks with some severe drought (D2) or worse.
Is there a burn ban in Otero County?
No burn ban is listed for Otero County. Check with the county before burning.
What sale barns are near Otero County?
The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Santa Teresa (74 mi), last report Oct 30, 2026; Roswell (90 mi), last report Oct 26, 2026; Belen (161 mi), last report Oct 30, 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: Apples 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.