Flash Flood in Catron County, New Mexico

Heavy rain in the Gila Cliff Dwellings flooded many creeks, canyons, and trails in the National Monument. Water overtook a bridge as debris clogged the canyon underneath which stranded visitors for a short time. Damages are estimated.

As an area of high pressure continued to strengthen over the Great Basin area on September 5, 2021, drier air continued to filter into the state from the north which further limited storm coverage across the area. However, deeper moisture continued to reside across southern New Mexico which allowed for another round of afternoon thunderstorms. A few of these thunderstorms produced heavy rainfall while steering flow moved these thunderstorms in a general south to southwest direction. With slow steering flow, this only added to the flash flooding risk. The heaviest rainfall was reported in southern Catron and Socorro counties, and flash flooding was reported in the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument where a few visitors to the park were stranded.