Flash Flood — Lincoln, New Mexico

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

Event narrative

Another round of thunderstorms on the South Fork and McBride burn scars resulted in flash flooding and debris flows on and downstream of the burn during the evening hours. Water and debris were observed flowing near Flume Canyon Drive, Mecham and White Mountain Drive, Warren Tucker and White Mountain Drive, and on Gavilan Canyon Road at Eagle Creek Road and between Janet and Edwards 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 → (33.3430, -105.7238)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1262323. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.