Santa Fe — A severe storm system brought a confirmed tornado touchdown to Santa Fe on Saturday night, October 24, resulting in structural damage, fallen trees, and scattered debris across the area. Local emergency services responded quickly to the impact zones, particularly focusing around the neighborhoods of Rancho Siringo and Camino Chueco.
The National Weather Service in Albuquerque issued a tornado warning for northeastern Santa Fe County at 7:01 p.m. amid a severe thunderstorm that also generated hail and powerful winds. City spokesperson Peter Olson confirmed that a tornado touched down in the Rancho Siringo neighborhood shortly after the warning.
Residents throughout the affected zones reported significant property damage, including torn-off roofs, downed trees, and heavy debris. Journalists and storm chasers on the ground shared imagery showing extensive impacts to homes near Siringo Road and Camino Carlos Rey, while a webcam captured a distinct funnel cloud looming over the municipality.
In addition to the structural impacts, the severe weather created widespread travel hazards. Olson noted that several motorists became stranded on Interstate 25, and emergency personnel conducted a swift water rescue along the Santa Fe River.
City officials urged the public to stay indoors and steer clear of impacted locations to allow rescue and emergency crews to operate safely. With rain and storms persisting through the night, authorities also warned residents to exercise extreme caution around flooded streets, arroyos, and drainage channels experiencing high water flows.