Flash Flood in Otero County, New Mexico

Strong thunderstorms developed over the southern Sacramento Mountains and along the eastern heights of Alamogordo. One storm in particular dropped about an inch and a half of rain in 40 minutes over Marble Canyon , which drains into eastern Alamogordo. Other storms added heavy rain and several inches of drifting small hail to that section of town. Strong winds blew shingles off houses, but flooding was the main problem. Roads along the eastern heights turned into raging torrents which flowed westward into the center of town. Mud flowed into numerous houses and several vehicles were swept into arroyos. A gas main was broken which led to the evacuation of residents in the vicinity. The state of NM put the damage total at about $1.3 million.