Few places in the Southwest brace for a funnel cloud, which is exactly why Saturday night felt so surreal for one New Mexico community. A storm that residents had little reason to fear carved a path through their neighborhood and left the city in cleanup mode.
A rare EF-1 tornado struck Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Saturday, marking the first tornado recorded in the city in more than 50 years. Weather officials say it formed around 7 p.m. in the Via Caballo neighborhood, south of the city center.
How did the Santa Fe tornado unfold?
After forming, the storm tracked north for roughly 1.5 miles. A damage survey found peak winds of 110 mph, which sits at the top of the EF-1 range on the scale used to rate tornadoes. That is strong enough to peel roofing, snap trees and send unsecured objects flying. The twister finally faded near the College of Santa Fe, ending a short but destructive run through residential streets.
What damage did the storm leave behind?
The worst of it showed up along Ranch Springs and Camino Chuco roads. Power poles snapped, trees were uprooted or badly damaged and fences came down. Drone footage released by local police showed significant damage to the roofs of numerous homes in the area.
At least 10 homes were damaged, according to the survey. One house lost most of its roof and suffered a collapsed wall, a reminder that even a mid range tornado can upend a family’s life in seconds. City leaders said some neighborhoods looked devastated in the hours that followed, and that the work of helping families was far from over.
What happens next for residents?
Cleanup crews are already working, and residents are being asked to stay out of the hardest hit areas while debris is hauled away. Keeping streets clear helps crews move equipment safely and speeds up repairs to utilities. City officials have pledged continued support for affected households and say recovery needs will be addressed as they surface…