Flash Flood — Otero, New Mexico

2023-08-23 to 2023-08-24 · near Pinto, Otero, New Mexico

Event narrative

Rock slide reported on Highway 82 just west of Mountain Park near the Tunnel Vista observation site due to the heavy rain that fell the previous afternoon/evening. The road remained closed for approximately 2 days.

Wider weather episode

The remnants of Tropical Storm Harold moved through southern Texas and into the Borderland on August 23. While the storm weakened significantly, some convective thunderstorm bands developed over Otero county on the afternoon of the 23rd and dropped over 3 inches of rain in La Luz. The heavy rainfall was also blamed for a landslide that occurred along Highway 82 near High Rolls during the early morning hours of the 24th.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (32.9483, -105.8707)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1129754. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.