Flash Flood in McKinley County, New Mexico

Superman Canyon Road washed out near Rock Flats Road.

Abundant moisture in place across New Mexico with weak steering flow provided the necessary ingredients for locally heavy rainfall. A series of thunderstorms with moderate rainfall drifted southwest across the Ute Park burn scar and produced the most significant flash flooding to date for the Ute Park area. Flood waters and a debris flow traveled down a drainage along Turkey Roost Lane and pushed through the center of the village, depositing ashy mud, debris, and small boulders through residential lots before draining into the Cimarron River. The debris flow deposited approximately two feet of debris and mud along impacted roads, making roads impassible and cutting off several homes. Approximately 12 homes were impacted with four receiving what the Colfax County emergency manager rated as moderate damage. Several vehicles were damaged or displaced from debris. Of the homes moderately damaged, most were damaged directly from debris and water or were in low-lying areas and have been surrounded by debris and flood waters. Several homes have septic fields and water wells impacted by the debris flow. Colfax County road crews had completed reopening the roads to traffic the following day of July 14th. Flash flooding was also reported later in the day around Church Rock.