Debris Flow in Lincoln County, New Mexico

Thunderstorms on the Ruidoso area burn scars resulted in flash flooding and debris flows on and downstream of the burn scars. Debris flow on Gavilan Canyon Road made the roadway impassible with a car containing an individual trapped in the debris. Thankfully, rescue crews were able to get the occupant out of the vehicle and debris flow.

The monsoon high was centered across southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico on August 1st and 2nd. Northwest flow around the upper high circulation along with embedded disturbances in this flow resulted in the development of showers and thunderstorms across parts of central and eastern New Mexico during the afternoon and evening hours. Thunderstorms resulted in some flash flooding on and downstream of the Ruidoso burn scars and in Lincoln on August 1st and on and downstream of the Salt burn scar on August 2nd. Meanwhile, severe storms across northeast and east central New Mexico resulted in some large hail near Ocate, Miami, Sedan, Hayden, and Amistad. Severe thunderstorms also produced damaging wind gusts in Santa Rosa and Hayden.