Flash Flood — Bernalillo, New Mexico

2025-09-28 · near Sandia Park, Bernalillo, New Mexico

Event narrative

A NWS Employee reported flash flooding stretching from San Pedro Creek at NM 14 where the creek was out of its banks. Numerous spots along NM 14 between Cedar Crest and the county line were flooded with rocks and debris over the road, with the worst of it at Ponderosa Park near Lantern Ridge. A USGS gage along the Tijeras Arroyo also observed a nine foot spike to 10 feet, coupled with a report of the arroyo overtopping Via Sedillo Road by two feet. The road was nearly impassible due to large rocks covering the roadway. Damage is an estimate.

Wider weather episode

A troughing pattern from the Pacific brought in a late season monsoon burst of moisture to the Desert Southwest. Strong to severe thunderstorms developed over portions of the state with more locally heavy rainfall events occurring from the abundant monsoon moisture. Flash flooding was observed in several locations ranging from near El Malpais south of Grants, NM, in Navajo Nation west of Crownpoint, and in Tijeras east of Albuquerque. One woman was reportedly swept away from flash flooding south of Gallup near Red Rock.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (35.1700, -106.3400)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1288536. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.