Flash Flood in Cibola County, New Mexico

NM 117 was closed just north of the El Malpais Visitor Center due to flash flooding.

An unseasonably strong upper level jet combined with sufficient low level moisture and instability to produce several areas of strong to severe thunderstorms over central and western New Mexico. Slow-moving thunderstorms that developed over western New Mexico produced flash flooding in portions of Cibola and McKinley counties where several roads were washed out or closed. Severe hail also accompanied these storms and as much as 8 inches of rain accumulated along portions of the roadway near the Bandera Ice Caves. As these storms moved east, they continued to produce sporadic large hail reports including areas around Santa Fe. Another round of thunderstorms developed after sunset over western Catron County and produced a significant flash flood wave in Vigil Canyon where debris was found 15 feet into the trees the following day.