Flash Flood — Bernalillo, New Mexico

2024-06-29 · near (aeg)double Eagle Ii Airport, Bernalillo, New Mexico

Event narrative

Heavy rain measured to have ranged from 1 to 2 inches within one hour across the Albuquerque metro area caused major flash flooding. Underpasses and low lying intersections in downtown were inundated with deep floodwaters. An SUV and public transit bus were partially submerged under the water and had to be retrieved by a tow truck. There were reports of street flooding and vehicles being stranded elsewhere across town. The Albuquerque Fire Department reported they performed 7 swift water rescues in the arroyos around town and 18 overall responses to folks impacted by the floodwaters. Of these responses, 10 were to help people stranded. An unknown number of homes near downtown and south of downtown received flood damage. The Albuquerque Police Department, Convention Center and City Hall also experienced flooding, but the damage was mostly aesthetic according to media reports. Total damage is an estimate based on limited information and extent of damage.

Wider weather episode

A burst of record level monsoonal moisture flowed into NM coupled with a backdoor frontal boundary moving through eastern NM. This yielded scattered to numerous afternoon thunderstorms developing over the high terrain of central and western NM on June 29th. One batch developed directly over the new South Fork burn scar along the Lincoln and Otero County line just west of Ruidoso. This storm expanded in coverage eastward toward Alto and Ruidoso, producing burn scar flash flooding and debris flows throughout the area. Nearly all if not all drainages into the Rio Ruidoso exhibited thick debris flows through town, warranting an evacuation of the Upper Canyon area. Numerous streets and water crossings were inundated with debris flows and flash flooding. Emergency officials reported there being 26 swift water rescues in Ruidoso on June 29th with zero injuries or fatalities. Heavy rains spread into the Rio Grande Valley and East Mountain Communities that evening. The torrential downpours produced 1 to 2 inches of rainfall over the ABQ metro in as little as one hour resulting in flash flooding across town. There were no reports of injuries or fatalities thankfully. Heavy rains returned to the Ruidoso area on June 30th in the form of storms anchored over the high terrain. Rainfall totals were estimated to be as high as 4 to 6 inches over portions of the Salt burn scar located just south of the Otero County line. Flash flooding and debris flows drained northward into Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs to Hollywood. Another flash flood emergency was issued as a result and the torrential debris flows raged through U.S. Highway 70 with the worst of it focused near the Sudderth Drive intersection. Multiple vehicles were swept away, including a semi-truck. A sharp rise on the Rio Ruidoso was recorded reaching Minor flood stage again, just as it did on the 29th. Damage to businesses and the Ruidoso Hospital were reported.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (35.0979, -106.7400)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1179160. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.