Flash Flood — De Baca, New Mexico

2017-10-03 · near Yeso, De Baca, New Mexico

Event narrative

Four to six inches of rainfall produced flash flooding in the Alamogordo Creek and Salado Creek drainages. Numerous low water crossings flooded.

Wider weather episode

An upper level low pressure system developed over the Great Basin during the first week of October and delivered another round of widespread showers and thunderstorms to New Mexico. This weather pattern was similar to the pattern that impacted the area with severe storms and flooding at the end of September. Saturated soils over much of central and eastern New Mexico from late September exacerbated the flash flood potential. The first round of heavy rainfall impacted eastern New Mexico on the 3rd when four to six inches of rain fell within the Pecos Valley. Low level moisture surged westward on the 4th and triggered more showers and storms within central New Mexico through the 5th. Flash flooding and severe storms developed in the Rio Grande Valley. Numerous roads were washed out within Santa Fe County. Flash flooding, hail, and high winds were reported again around Belen. Meanwhile, eastern New Mexico continued to experience deluges of rainfall with flash flooding reported around Logan, Fort Sumner, Portales, and Elk. Three day total rainfall amounts of 3 to 8 inches were reported across eastern New Mexico with another 1 to 3 inches around the Rio Grande Valley.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (34.5852, -104.4923)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 717964. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.