Flash Flood in San Juan County, New Mexico

Heavy runoff within the Baker Arroyo jumped out and flooded west and south, impacting U.S. Highway 64, Christ the King Catholic Church, the Central Consolidated School District and the Chat and Chew restaurant. At least two homes were destroyed or made uninhabitable. Damage cost is an estimate.

A plume of monsoon moisture streamed northward over western and central NM, coupled with strong wind shear in the atmosphere. Strong to severe thunderstorms developed along and west of the Continental Divide in New Mexico on August 25th, tracking north to northeast. One storm developed south of Shiprock, NM and moved northward through town. Locally heavy rainfall combined with overgrowth of vegetation in drainage canals resulted in flash flooding in multiple locations of town. One location was closer to the center of town across U.S. Highway 64, with a second thunderstorm bringing more flooding to an area just a few miles northwest of Shiprock.