Quay County rain, outlook and forecast
On the Oct 27 U.S. Drought Monitor map, most of Quay County, NM was in severe drought (D2); week 33 in a row with some severe drought (D2) or worse. Rain has run 151% of normal over the last 30 days (well above normal) and 178% over 90 days, so the past month has been drier than the season so far; the NWS forecast peaks at a 83% rain chance on today (high 74°) and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 7–11 leans toward near-normal rain. FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Quay County (county seat: Tucumcari) with up to 4 monthly payments, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is Clovis, 53 miles away.
Rain vs normal
- Last 30 days 151% of normal
- Last 60 days 281% of normal
- Last 90 days 178% 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 Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, high 74°, low 54°, 83% rain, wind 15–25 mph
- Monday Sunny, high 71°, low 45°, 5% rain, wind 5–25 mph
- Tuesday Sunny, high 67°, low 42°, 0% rain, wind 0–10 mph
- Wednesday Sunny, high 69°, low 44°, 10% rain, wind 0–10 mph
- Thursday Sunny, high 65°, low 40°, 1% rain, wind 0–10 mph
- Friday Mostly Sunny, high 67°, low 44°, 19% rain, wind 0–5 mph
- Saturday Chance Rain Showers, high 65°, low 41°, 29% rain, wind 5 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 Quay 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
Quay 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 Quay County
Forecast for the center point of Quay County.
- Windy on 2 days
- Today Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 74° 54° S 15–25 mph 83% rain
- Mon Sunny 71° 45° W 5–25 mph 5% rain
- Tue Sunny 67° 42° N 0–10 mph 0% rain
- Wed Sunny 69° 44° SW 0–10 mph 10% rain
- Thu Sunny 65° 40° N 0–10 mph 1% rain
- Fri Mostly Sunny 67° 44° SW 0–5 mph 19% rain
- Sat Chance Rain Showers 65° 41° NW 5 mph 29% 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
New Mexico Forestry Division (state forester) restrictions for non-municipal, non-federal, non-Tribal land in Quay 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
None right now
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 1.70 in; same month last year 1.24 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 Quay County. Frost = 32°F; hard freeze = 28°F.
Tucumcari Muni Ap weather station (6 mi away)
| Typical last spring frost | Typical first fall frost | |
|---|---|---|
| Frost (32°F) 190-day growing season |
Apr 18 1 year in 10 it's after May 1 |
Oct 26 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 13 |
| Hard freeze (28°F) 211-day growing season |
Apr 4 1 year in 10 it's after Apr 21 |
Nov 4 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 20 |
Tucumcari 4 Ne weather station (10 mi away)
| Typical last spring frost | Typical first fall frost | |
|---|---|---|
| Frost (32°F) 189-day growing season |
Apr 18 1 year in 10 it's after May 2 |
Oct 25 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 11 |
| Hard freeze (28°F) 212-day growing season |
Apr 4 1 year in 10 it's after Apr 22 |
Nov 4 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 22 |
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Tucumcari Muni Ap, Tucumcari 4 Ne), NOAA files as of Jun 27, 2023. Fetched Oct 18, 2026.
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Printable county brief (PDF) · Everything on one page · Hay prices in New Mexico · County seat: Tucumcari
Common questions and nearby counties
Is Quay County eligible for LFP in 2026?
Yes. Quay 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 Quay County this week?
On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 2026, most of Quay County was in severe drought (D2), and the worst part was severe drought (D2) on 58% of the county. 33 straight weeks with some severe drought (D2) or worse.
Is there a burn ban in Quay County?
No burn ban is listed for Quay County. Check with the county before burning.
What sale barns are near Quay County?
The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Clovis (53 mi), last report Oct 28, 2026; Wildorado (81 mi), last report Oct 27, 2026; Dalhart (84 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.