Flash Flood in Roosevelt County, New Mexico

Heavy rain that fell on saturated grounds in the area between Portales, Elida, and Dora produced major flash flooding. Several county roads were under water, damaged, and closed. Emergency management estimated total damages across Roosevelt County from flooding topped 2.4 million dollars.

The center of upper level high pressure shifted west into southwest New Mexico the first few days of August 2017. This allowed stronger northwest flow aloft to develop over eastern New Mexico with very moist and unstable southeast low level flow. A large area of showers and thunderstorms developed over the northern mountains by late morning then shifted southeast into the nearby highlands and plains. Strong outflow winds from a storm near Dulce produced significant damage to the roof of the Jicarilla Head Start. Another storm over Albuquerque downed a tree near Montano and Rio Grande. These storms organized into mesoscale convective complex as they pushed into eastern New Mexico during the evening hours. High winds first impacted the area around Melrose where gusts up to 60 mph were reported. The most severe portion of the storm complex surged through the area between Portales and Dora where significant damage was reported. Straight line winds estimated up to 85 mph tore roofs off buildings, downed tree limbs, damaged vehicles, turned over large irrigation pivots, and downed a one mile stretch of power poles. Heavy rainfall over saturated grounds produced flash flooding and forced the closure of several county roads south of Portales.