Debris Flow in Sandoval County, New Mexico

The Sandoval County Emergency Manager and a later survey by NWS Albuquerque showed that a flash flood debris flow drove large boulders across NM4 just south of Jemez Springs near the Fire Dept., with flash flooding impacts stretching from Madrid Road to the Jemez Historic Site. This closed the highway for a period of time, and caused one person to need assistance leaving their stuck vehicle. Heavy rainfall caused the flash flooding and was unrelated to the nearby McCauley Springs burn scar. Damage is an estimate.

The season's first rendition of the North American Monsoon high developed over south-central and southwestern NM with increased low-level moisture intruding beneath it. Faster westerly flow along the northern periphery of the high allowed for some convective organization and stronger afternoon thunderstorms. Relatively warm conditions and low humidity also allowed for strong downdrafts to occur yielding severe wind gusts from decaying thunderstorms mainly over western and central NM each day. Several of these dry downbursts produced blowing dust with one particular event resulting in zero visibility in Rio Rancho on the 25th. Storms through central and eastern NM were wetter in nature threatening locally heavy rainfall and flash flooding. Flash flooding was reported in Raton on the 24th, with another report of heavy rains producing a landslide from steep terrain near Jemez Springs along NM Highway 4 on the 26th. Other storms produced various severe wind gusts and hail across portions of northern and central NM each day.