Flash Flood — Lincoln, New Mexico

2025-07-06 · near Ruidoso, Lincoln, New Mexico

Event narrative

Heavy rain from slow moving storms on the South Fork and McBride burn scars resulted in flash flooding on and downstream of the burn scars. Several roads along and crossing the Rio Ruidoso were closed due to the resultant flash flooding and debris flow in the river. This included Mechem Drive, Ebarb Drive at Main Road and West Redwood Road, Fern Trail at Terrance and Grindstone, Eagle Bridge on Eagle Road, Gavilan Bridge on Gavilan Canyon Road in Hollywood, Cree Meadows at Country Club and Heath, Robin Road, Hull Road, and Paradise Canyon Road. The floodwaters and debris flow washed away a vehicle on Porr Drive. No information was known on if any occupants were in the vehicle at the time. Another vehicle was stuck in flood waters at Apache Hills Drive and Grant Drive. Finally, 2 to 3 inches of water entered a home on Ash Drive.

Wider weather episode

The monsoon high over northern Mexico built north into the desert southwest on July 6th and 7th. Daytime heating and moisture resulted in the development of scattered showers and storms across the northern and central mountains during the afternoon hours spreading east to lower elevations during the evening hours before tapering off shortly after sunset. Heavy rainfall from storms over the burn scars surrounding Ruidoso resulted in flash flooding on and downstream of the burn scars on July 6th followed by two separate rounds on July 7th with first round occurring during the early afternoon hours and the second round occurring during the mid evening hours just before sunset.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (33.3545, -105.6747)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1262272. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.