Flash Flood — Rio Arriba, New Mexico

2024-06-20 · near Medanales, Rio Arriba, New Mexico

Event narrative

Flooding over U.S. Highway 85 at mile markers 200 and 204 requiring debris removal. Reports of home damage from arroyo flooding, and a water rescue of a couple trapped in a mobile home due to surrounding flood waters. Injuries are unknown. Flood damage reported in homes from the arroyo flooding. Damage costs are an estimate.

Wider weather episode

A burst of monsoon moisture surged into eastern NM the morning of June 19th and surged through the gaps of the central mountain chain bringing high wind gusts of up to 58 miles per hour to parts of the Albuquerque metro that afternoon and evening. The strong east canyon wind during the evening resulted in a downed tree in the northeast heights of Albuquerque. The monsoon moisture surged through western NM and to the Arizona border by the morning of the 20th. The first event of flash flooding occurred on the 19th with thunderstorms developing along the east slopes of the central mountain chain. These slow moving storms dumped heavy rain in very localized and extremely sensitive areas of the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon burn scar from 2022 and within the most recent South Fork and Blue 2 burn scars near Ruidoso. Debris flows made roads impassable in the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon burn area and extremely inhibited fire recovery and response in the South Fork burn area. Large hail was also observed within both of these burn areas. Heavy rain acted to suppress the South Fork wildfire, but the cost was highly unjust for the benefits. Flash flooding was so bad that county emergency management issued an evacuation order for areas along the Rio Bonito and near Bonito Lake because of flash flooding within the Blue 2 burn area. A severe thunderstorm moving through the Albuquerque metro area also produced a localized dust storm that resulted in a 30 car accident along I-25 just north of Placitas. A slow moving storm over the Estancia Basin also dumped heavy rain, accumulating hail near the town of Willard. Flood waters and piles of hail resulted in stranded cars along highways near Willard, NM. The combination of flash flooding and severe weather continued into June 20th although prevailing high winds subsided in the Albuquerque metro area. Flash flooding was reported along the Rio Chama, Los Alamos and within the Hermit's Peak Calf/Canyon burn scar while a severe wind gust was observed at Gallup. A third day of flash flooding and severe weather struck on June 21st within the burn areas and Farmington. Debris flows were reported within the new South Fork burn area with more flash flooding within the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon burn area. Flash flooding was also reported along the Rio San Jose in Grants and in Farmington. The heavy rains over the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon burn area resulted in a flash flood emergency when flood waters overrode the Peterson Reservoir within the Gallinas Creek watershed just upstream of Las Vegas. An evacuation order was issued by city and county officials for residents along the Gallinas Creek and portions of Las Vegas, NM. Meanwhile, heavy rains occurring on June 20th within the Rio Chama basin resulted in a rise to just below Moderate flood stage near Chamita. While these flood waters subsided, major sand deposits near the village of Medanales resulted in the Rio Chama carving out a new path that pushed the flow of the river into adjacent agricultural areas. The threat of localized heavy rain continued on June 22nd, but there were no reports of impacts relayed as overall storm coverage waned into the weekend. More storms formed over the Sacramento Mountains midday June 23rd resulting in flash flooding and debris flows over the South Fork burn scar with the runoff allowing the Rio Ruidoso to instantly jump to a peak height of 11.43 feet.

Key Words: Flash Flood, Debris Flow, Hail, Severe Wind Gust, River Flooding, Dust Storm.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (36.1830, -106.1876)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1176760. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.