Sandoval County rain, outlook and forecast
As of the Oct 27 Drought Monitor, most of Sandoval County, NM was abnormally dry (D0), with 43% at moderate drought (D1); 43% of the county is in moderate drought (D1) or worse, down from 100% four weeks earlier. Rain has run 278% of normal over the last 30 days (well above normal) and 190% over 90 days, so the past month has been wetter than the season so far; the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 7–11 leans toward near-normal rain and today carries the week's highest rain chance at 98% (high 59°). Sandoval County is on FSA's 2026 LFP list with up to 5 monthly payments, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is Belen, 64 miles away.
Rain vs normal
- Last 30 days 278% of normal
- Last 60 days 303% of normal
- Last 90 days 190% 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 Showers And Thunderstorms, high 59°, low 42°, 98% rain, wind 10–30 mph
- Monday Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny, high 50°, low 37°, 39% rain, wind 15–30 mph
- Tuesday Sunny, high 57°, low 36°, 0% rain, wind 0–15 mph
- Wednesday Sunny, high 59°, low 37°, 4% rain, wind 5–15 mph
- Thursday Sunny, high 59°, low 36°, 0% rain, wind 5–15 mph
- Friday Mostly Sunny, high 59°, low 37°, 13% rain, wind 5–15 mph
- Saturday Sunny, high 58°, low 35°, 13% rain, wind 5–15 mph
National Weather Service forecast for the county center, updated Nov 1, 2026. Wind, warnings and burn bans.
Open loss windows 2 open
| What happened | Started | Tell FSA early by | FSA deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flood Warning (National Weather Service) | Nov 1, 2026 | Dec 1, 2026 (30 days left) | Mar 1, 2027 |
| Flood Warning (National Weather Service) | Nov 1, 2026 | Dec 1, 2026 (30 days left) | Mar 1, 2027 |
If this cost you livestock, extra feed or hauled water, call your county FSA office now, while it's fresh. The 30-day date is a suggestion from Cownty; FSA's deadline for the notice of loss and application is the March 1 date. Log it in your Drought Ledger · Find your FSA office and phone
Information only; not financial, tax or legal advice. FSA decides eligibility. Cownty sends nothing to FSA.
Drought-sale tax flag IRS list
Sandoval 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 Sandoval County
Forecast for the center point of Sandoval County.
- Flood Warning
- Flood Watch
- Severe Thunderstorm Warning
- Windy on 2 days
- Today Showers And Thunderstorms 59° 42° S 10–30 mph 98% rain
- Mon Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny 50° 37° W 15–30 mph 39% rain
- Tue Sunny 57° 36° NW 0–15 mph 0% rain
- Wed Sunny 59° 37° SW 5–15 mph 4% rain
- Thu Sunny 59° 36° NW 5–15 mph 0% rain
- Fri Mostly Sunny 59° 37° NW 5–15 mph 13% rain
- Sat Sunny 58° 35° NW 5–15 mph 13% 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 Sandoval 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
- Flood Watch Severe
Flood Watch issued November 1 at 2:09PM MST until November 2 at 11:00AM MST by NWS Albuquerque NM - Flood Warning Severe
Flood Warning issued November 1 at 3:54PM MST until November 1 at 10:00PM MST by NWS Albuquerque NM - Severe Thunderstorm Warning Severe
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued November 1 at 4:33PM MST until November 1 at 5:00PM MST by NWS Albuquerque NM - Flood Warning Severe
Flood Warning issued November 1 at 7:40AM MST until November 2 at 6:00PM 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 1.45 in; same month last year 1.44 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 59 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 Sandoval County. Frost = 32°F; hard freeze = 28°F.
Torreon Navajo Mission weather station (18 mi away)
| Typical last spring frost | Typical first fall frost | |
|---|---|---|
| Frost (32°F) 143-day growing season |
May 15 1 year in 10 it's after Jun 2 |
Oct 5 1 year in 10 it's before Sep 23 |
| Hard freeze (28°F) 164-day growing season |
May 1 1 year in 10 it's after May 18 |
Oct 15 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 2 |
Wolf Canyon weather station (20 mi away)
| Typical last spring frost | Typical first fall frost | |
|---|---|---|
| Frost (32°F) 83-day growing season |
Jun 19 1 year in 10 it's after Jul 6 |
Sep 13 1 year in 10 it's before Aug 30 |
| Hard freeze (28°F) 109-day growing season |
Jun 4 1 year in 10 it's after Jun 25 |
Sep 23 1 year in 10 it's before Sep 9 |
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Torreon Navajo Mission, Wolf Canyon), NOAA files as of Jun 27, 2023. Fetched Oct 18, 2026.
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Common questions and nearby counties
Is Sandoval County eligible for LFP in 2026?
Yes. Sandoval 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 Sandoval County this week?
On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 2026, most of Sandoval County was in abnormally dry (D0), and the worst part was moderate drought (D1) on 43% of the county. 0 straight weeks with some severe drought (D2) or worse.
Is there a burn ban in Sandoval County?
No burn ban is listed for Sandoval County. Check with the county before burning.
What sale barns are near Sandoval County?
The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Belen (64 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: 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.