Flash Flood in Catron County, New Mexico

Flash flooding in Vigil Canyon near Alma was reported by two rangers that were trapped and nearly carried away by flood waters. Flood debris was reported 15 feet in depth within the canyon. Some elk fences were destroyed and several mobile home trailers were briefly endangered.

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.