Flash Flood in McKinley County, New Mexico

NM-412 south of Prewitt to Bluewater Lake was closed due to swift flood waters crossing the roadway.

Abundant moisture combined with strong afternoon heating beneath an upper level high over southwestern New Mexico to produce numerous showers and thunderstorms with heavy rainfall on July 25, 2019. Storms first developed over the northern and western high terrain during the early afternoon hours before moving southward into nearby highlands and valleys through the afternoon. Rainfall rates of two inches per hour were common with several of these storms, resulting in many reports of minor flooding. The most significant impacts were reported around Bluewater Lake and Los Alamos where swift flowing water and debris resulted in some road closures.