Flash Flood — Santa Fe, New Mexico

2021-07-20 · near Agua Fria, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Event narrative

Multiple sources reported flooding around Eldorado as an intense thunderstorm produced rain rates of about 4 to 5 inches per hour. A CoCoRaHS observer in Eldorado reported 2.03 inches of rain with 1.1 inches of that falling in just 45 minutes. The heavy rainfall flooded arroyos around Eldorado. A couple residents also reported that their yards had been flooded while another resident reported that the flood waters entered their garage. Damages are estimated for the flooded garage.

Wider weather episode

It was another active monsoon day across northern and central New Mexico on July 20, 2021. With an area of high pressure centered over the Four Corners and high amounts of atmospheric moisture across western and central New Mexico, thunderstorms developed by late morning across the mountainous terrain. With the upper-level high pressure's location, thunderstorms moved in a southerly direction and expanded in coverage across lower elevations. These thunderstorms produced very heavy rainfall, and several reports of flash flooding were received across urban areas. The most significant flash flooding occurred in Albuquerque where rainfall rates of 3 to 4 inches per hour quickly filled the city's arroyos. Three water rescues had to be conducted in Albuquerque due to people in the arroyos, but unfortunately, rescue efforts were not successful.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (35.5615, -105.9867)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 961307. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.