Flash Flood — Chaves, New Mexico

1996-07-14 · near Lake Arthur, Chaves, New Mexico

Wider weather episode

A woman and three children drowned when the car they were riding was swept off the pavement into Walnut Creek. The normally dry creek was running 4 feet deep over a dip in the road following heavy rain of 2 to 4 inches on the watershed 12 to 18 miles to the west. Rain had ended about 3 PM. Water began to fill the Spence Road low water crossing around 530PM. The vehicle entered the water at dark or about 9PM. The 48 year old male driver of the vehicle was rescued by other motorists.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5568310. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.