Thousands of people in New Mexico have been told to keep an eye on the forecast as the state braces to be hit by another flash flood.
The National Weather Service (NWS) said there is a 50 percent chance the “watch” will become a warning for at least four counties in the central part of the state, including Albuquerque, through 8 p.m. MT.
“A warning is when you should act quickly as flash flooding is an imminent threat to you and your family,” according to the NWS.
The storm is forecast to bring up to two inches of rain per hour, combined with soils already saturated by rainfall over the past two days, and could lead to excessive runoff and flash flooding.
This is the 29th flash flood warning of the year, but the state has issued 189 warnings that were followed by the destruction of at least 200 homes and the rescue of hundreds of people.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued the warning for residents in part of central New Mexico, including Albuquerque with more than 560,000 people, until 8:00 p.m. MT
Andrew Mangham, senior hydrologist on duty, told DailyMail.com: ‘This will be an ongoing problem throughout the monsoon season.
‘(Ruidoso) faces hurricane-level impacts every week, every day.’
He went on to explain that New Mexico is on track to surpass the 2021 record for flood warnings, which was 250.
New Mexico’s monsoon season began on June 15 and will continue through September 30.
But the rainiest months are July and August, which record up to 40 percent of the year’s total rainfall.
The National Guard was deployed to New Mexico in late June to help rescue residents of Ruidoso, which was under a flash flood emergency on Monday.
Soldiers were seen crossing the rising waters to evacuate elderly residents of the small town.
Minutes after they were brought to safety, waters rose six feet and flooded their homes, KOAT reported.
From now on, residents are urged to “monitor subsequent forecasts and be prepared to take action if flash flood warnings are issued.”
‘A flood watch for flash flooding is in effect this afternoon and evening above and downstream of the burn scars in Lincoln County,’ NWS Albuquerque shared in an X post.
‘Heavy rain and slow-moving thunderstorms are expected. High temperatures are expected elsewhere in the world. Triple-digit temperatures are expected in the plains.’
Evacuations were ordered in the town of Ruidoso, New Mexico, last month amid a wildfire.
Since 1959, 65 New Mexicans have lost their lives in flash floods.
The flash flooding is due to heavy rains falling on a burn area near Brady Canyon and Ruidoso Downs.
A forest fire leaves a burn scar: it appears as a charred, barren strip of land, does not absorb rainfall like normal soil, and causes extensive flooding.
And just a quarter to a half inch of rain can trigger major flash flooding in those burn areas.
The last fire occurred in June, forcing the evacuation of Ruidoso.
“Wildfires are very common in New Mexico, but the last one developed particularly quickly,” Mangham said.
The location of the wildfire was problematic. It occurred in an urban area and was on a road that ran through Ruidoso.
He went on to explain that the NWS will be watching radar to estimate rainfall rates, in addition to ground-based precipitation collectors.
The city was hit by another flash flood over the weekend as the National Guard reported it had rescued or evacuated at least 12 people and two dogs.
“Once we see rainfall exceed a threshold, we will issue a warning,” Mangham said.
‘When we say there is a flash flood watch, we mean don’t go looking for trouble.
‘When there is an emergency, it means you should not go out because trouble will find you.’
Flooding in Ruidoso on Monday washed out part of the town’s racetrack and created a makeshift debris dam that blocked a river.
“I don’t know the extent of the cleanup, but they are working on it and we can expect to be attacked again today,” Mangham said.
The city was hit by another flash flood over the weekend as the National Guard reported it had rescued or evacuated at least 12 people and two dogs. FOX Weather reported.
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