Sign In Register

Portales, NM

Full City Profile · New Mexico · Roosevelt County County

3.0 /5.0
B Good
12,023 Population 1,497/sq mi density
$51,290 Median Income $23,988 per capita
$132,900 Home Value $135,547 Zillow
$870 Median Rent 28.0% income on rent
60°F Avg Temperature 330 sunny days/yr
471 Violent Crime/100K 2,612 property/100K
B
Overall
3.0 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
C+
Economy
2.9 / 5.0
$51,290 median income, 4.8% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$132,900 home value, $870/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
471 violent crimes/100K (24% above avg)
B
Education
3.1 / 5.0
26.4% bachelor's degree or higher
Portales enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 60°F (16°C). Winters average 40°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. The area gets 330 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 16.1 inches. The area receives 7.6 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 37.

Temperature

40°F Jan (5°C) 80°F Jul (27°C)
Annual Average60.1°F
11% above US avg
January Average40°F (5°C)
July Average80°F (27°C)
Sunny Days330 days/yr

Geography

Elevation4,007 ft (1,221 m)
Area7.0 sq mi (18.2 km²)
Population Density1,497/sq mi
Coordinates34.1773°N, 103.3551°W
TimezoneAmerica/Denver
CountyRoosevelt County County
Nearest AirportClovis Regional (CVN)
23 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 16.1"
58% below US avg
Snowfall 7.6"
Wettest Month (Aug) 2.95"
Driest Month (Jan) 0.43"

Air Quality

AQI Median37.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score84.1 / 100
Social Vulnerability52.6 / 100
Community Resilience2.6 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Low
Hurricane Very Low
Earthquake Very Low
Wildfire Relatively High
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively Low
Ice Storm Relatively Low
Drought Relatively High
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Very Low
Volcano Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

9 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.3. Most recent: M3.0 on Apr 1, 2025.

Mar 19, 1995 8 km SSE of Newkirk, New Mexico M3.3 121 km
Jan 6, 2014 31 km E of Logan, New Mexico M3.3 129 km
Apr 1, 2025 22 km S of Newkirk, New Mexico M3.0 111 km
Jul 14, 1998 6 km WSW of Logan, New Mexico M3.0 130 km
Aug 18, 2017 13 km SW of Newkirk, New Mexico M2.8 128 km
Jun 7, 2020 11 km NE of Adrian, Texas M2.8 149 km
Jun 29, 2020 5 km SSW of Newkirk, New Mexico M2.7 127 km
Apr 21, 2024 24 km S of Adrian, Texas M2.7 117 km
Apr 30, 2022 8 km E of Anton, Texas M2.6 126 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

329 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 6 fatalities, 131 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Apr 17, 1970 EF4 71 km 1
Apr 17, 1970 EF4 93 km 0
Jun 2, 1995 EF3 71 km 0
May 10, 1991 EF3 82 km 0
May 16, 1969 EF3 84 km 0
May 6, 1969 EF3 88 km 0
Oct 17, 1965 EF3 90 km 0
May 21, 1963 EF3 30 km 0
Jun 3, 1961 EF3 76 km 0
Oct 11, 1960 EF3 77 km 0
Apr 12, 1960 EF3 99 km 3
May 24, 1957 EF3 47 km 0
May 23, 2022 EF2 67 km 0
May 23, 2022 EF2 97 km 0
May 26, 2019 EF2 77 km 0
May 26, 2019 EF2 33 km 0
Mar 23, 2007 EF2 70 km 0
Mar 23, 2007 EF2 18 km 2
Jun 27, 1992 EF2 42 km 0
Mar 27, 1992 EF2 39 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: CATO (53,730 ac, 2009).

Year Name Acres Distance
2009 CATO 53,730 84 km
2011 TIRE 44,942 16 km
2018 206 40,247 66 km
2000 VALENTINE COMPLEX 35,678 98 km
2000 JOHNNY 34,324 96 km
2011 WINDY 24,687 65 km
2005 RANGE 24,643 32 km
2008 FOUR LAKES 23,770 88 km
2011 KIZER 5 20,859 64 km
2018 380 19,287 90 km
2006 JET 13,889 50 km
2017 1 SOUTH ANTELOPE 12,107 87 km
1989 CAPROCK 11,492 80 km
2006 TATUM WEST 10,960 99 km
2008 UNNAMED 10,085 56 km
2011 BURNING TENT 9,473 92 km
2006 FOUR LAKES 9,226 90 km
1991 BIG 9,184 66 km
2011 FATHERS DAY 8,947 87 km
2006 FM 214 CR 210 8,848 91 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 40°F (5°C) 0.4 in Driest
February 42°F (6°C) 0.5 in
March 49°F (10°C) 0.5 in
April 57°F (14°C) 0.6 in
May 66°F (19°C) 1.6 in
June 75°F (24°C) 2.6 in
July 80°F (27°C) 2.8 in Warmest
August 76°F (24°C) 3.0 in Wettest
September 69°F (21°C) 2.1 in
October 59°F (15°C) 1.4 in
November 46°F (8°C) 0.7 in
December 39°F (4°C) 0.6 in Coldest

Portales has a seasonal temperature swing of 41°F / from 39°F in December to 80°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 16.7 inches, with August being the wettest month (3.0") and January the driest (0.4").

View full weather details →