Flash Flood — Sandoval, New Mexico

2025-09-16 · near Algodones, Sandoval, New Mexico

Event narrative

Heavy rainfall from slow moving thunderstorms resulted in water and debris from nearby drainages covering portions of I-25 between mile markers 248 and 249 near Algodones. The interstate was reduced to 1 lane with traffic backed up 4 miles in both directions for several hours during the evening. The Rail Runner tracks at mile marker 14 on Pan American Central Highway in Algodones was also flooded with debris over the railroad tracks and a bridge being washed out. This resulted in a 3 hour delay to allow for repairs to the railroad track and bridge. Northbound travelers were bussed from the stop on Highway 550 to the San Felipe station to continue their trip, while southbound travelers were bussed from the stop to the Highway 550 station.

Wider weather episode

Monsoon moisture returned to southern, eastern, and much of central New Mexico on September 16th. This higher moisture combined with disturbances rotating around the southern periphery of an upper low over the northern and central Rocky Mountains resulted in the development of showers and thunderstorms during the midday hours across these portions of the state. A thunderstorm produced a wet microburst over the Las Vegas Municipal Airport during the mid-afternoon hours resulting in an 81 mph wind gust at the site. Additionally, slow moving thunderstorms on I-25 at Algodones produced flash flooding on the highway and railroad, resulting in backups and delays for several hours during the evening. Showers and thunderstorms across the region tapered off during the late evening hours after sunset.

An upper level disturbance over Colorado combined with a backdoor front draped across far northeast New Mexico resulted in the development of severe thunderstorms across northern Colfax and northeastern Union Counties from the mid-afternoon to mid-evening hours. Large hail up to golf ball size was observed near Sugarite Canyon State Park and in Clayton. Thunderstorms across far northeast New Mexico tapered off during the late evening hours as the backdoor front surged south through eastern New Mexico.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (35.3758, -106.4936)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1284051. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.