Flash Flood — Sandoval, New Mexico

2011-08-22 · near Cochiti Pueblo, Sandoval, New Mexico

Event narrative

During the damage survey of the previous days flooding, abundant rain above Cochiti Canyon resulted in another, more devastating flood, to Dixon's Apple Orchard which was witness first hand by the NWS Albuquerque Warning Coordination Meteorologist. The force of the flow was estimated to be 3 times as that of the previous days flood. At least 10 feet high, the width of the flood waters was approximately 100 yards wide. 20 to 40 percent more of the apple orchard was destroyed. Also, the main storage building that sustained damage in the previous days flood was wiped completely off its foundation. The semi truck that moved 200 yards before, was washed downstream and ended up in the Cochiti Lake Reservoir in pieces.

Wider weather episode

For the second day in a row, the southern portions of the Las Conchas burn scar was inundated with heavy rains as weak disturbances continued to round the western periphery of the upper high. Though storm coverage was less than on the 21st, slow storm motions resulted in significant impacts. Cochiti Canyon sustained the brunt of the flooding and damage as over 2 inches of rain fell on the headwaters.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (35.7200, -106.4300)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 329314. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.