Flash Flood in San Juan County, New Mexico

The San Juan County emergency manager reported flash flooding at Chaco National Park. High water rises were reported along the Chaco River, and one unknown roadway within the park was completely destroyed. Time of this report is estimated based on radar, and damages are also estimated.

An easterly wave was located just south of El Paso, Texas on August 17, 2022. Associated with this wave was an above normal amount of moisture that produced persistent shower activity across southern New Mexico. This stratiform precipitation moved into southern Lincoln County during the early morning hours of August 17th. While this activity was not convective in nature and did not have very high rain rates, it did move over the McBride burn scar and several hours of even light, steady rain produced flash flooding on the burn scar near Ruidoso. Meanwhile, more typical convective activity in northwest New Mexico produced flash flooding at Chaco National Park.