Flash Flood — Rio Arriba, New Mexico

2016-08-22 · near Hernandez, Rio Arriba, New Mexico

Event narrative

Two elderly residents rescued from a mobile home that was washed off it's foundation and displaced over 50 feet downstream. Up to 30 homes inundated with water and at least 10 families displaced from flood waters. U.S. Highway 285, highway 74, and county road 57 all closed to remove mud and debris. County Road 57 washed over with mudslides from nearby mesa.

Wider weather episode

An otherwise benign day of isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms across New Mexico was disrupted by life threatening flash flooding over far southeastern Rio Arriba County. The necessary ingredients for back-building thunderstorms came together along the northeast slopes of the Jemez Mountains during the early afternoon. Steering flow shifted these storms eastward into the area around Hernandez, Chamita, and Alcalde where hail and torrential rainfall were reported for several hours. Emergency management estimated up to 30 homes were inundated with water and mud. Many vehicles were overturned in flood waters and at least three water rescues took place. The most significant damage occurred along highway 74 where a mobile home was washed off it's foundation over 50 feet downstream. Numerous roads were impassable. Local DOT officials said for the first time the main arroyo that crosses under U.S. Highway 285 at Hernandez topped the roadway by up to 4 inches. Locals in the area said this was the worst flood they have observed in several decades.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (36.0788, -106.1358)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 646064. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.