Flash Flood — Socorro, New Mexico

2021-07-06 to 2021-07-07 · near Veguita, Socorro, New Mexico

$500K

Property damage

Event narrative

Very strong thunderstorms with heavy rainfall of 2 to 4 inches severely impacted the Socorro area as well as areas north of the city into the early morning hours of July 7th. The Socorro County emergency manager reported that irrigation ditches throughout Socorro County were impacted with overtopping and washing out due to the flood waters. The La Joya Acequia sustained significant damage with several feet of concrete-lined ditches lost and culverts exposed. The Sabinal Fire Station in northern Socorro County was flooded, and numerous homes in low-lying areas in the County had water surrounding them. Numerous country roads and arroyos were flooded and washed out. The BNSF Railroad was also significantly impacted as all trains had to be stopped due to silt and rock debris covering the railroad tracks that go through Socorro County. Damages are estimated.

Wider weather episode

The area of high pressure that had been centered over the Four Corners shifted slightly westward on July 6, 2021. Meanwhile, low level return flow continued which aided in keeping moisture values high across New Mexico. With sufficient instability and shear, another crop of thunderstorms developed first across the high terrain before becoming more widespread across lower elevations. With numerous days of widespread thunderstorms and heavy rainfall, soils across northern and central New Mexico were saturated and primed for more flash flooding. Numerous flash floods were reported across the area with the most significant flash flooding occurring in the Belen area and farther south into Socorro County. Several inches of rainfall breached a canal in Belen which flooded low-water crossings as well as numerous homes and businesses. A State of Emergency was declared in Valencia County due to the flooding.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (34.5094, -106.6707)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 960296. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.