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By Anna Skinner
Associate News Editor
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National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists issued a desperate plea for some residents in New Mexico to seek higher ground immediately as life-threatening flash floods inundated the area.
The state has faced multiple environmental threats this summer. In June, a wildfire prompted the immediate evacuation of 7,000 residents in Ruidoso. Then severe storms threatened heavy rain and hail. At times, floods have been so severe that they stranded cars as the water washed over a highway.
On Monday, rain falling over a burn scar near Brady Canyon and Ruidoso Downs prompted NWS meteorologists to issue a flash flood warning, which is set to remain in place until 4:45 p.m. local time.
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"The Flash Flood Warning has now been upgraded to a FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY!" the NWS office in Albuquerque warned on X, formerly Twitter. "This is a life-threatening situation! Seek higher ground immediately, avoid any flooded roads, and follow all emergency management instructions, including evacuations!"
According to the graphic included with the message, more than 15,500 people were at risk in the impacted areas, and potentially at-risk structures included nine schools and one hospital.
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NWS meteorologist Carter Greulich told Newsweek that meteorologists had not received any reports of injuries or fatalities related to the floods.
As of 2:27 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time, thunderstorms had ended, but the NWS said that emergency management personnel continued to report "catastrophic impacts."
"The Cherokee and Gavilan mobile home parks have been evacuated, and U. S. Highway 70 remains closed at the Apache Travel Center. Up to 1.6 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 0.25 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing," the flash flood warning said.
"Excessive rainfall over the burn scar will impact the Rio Bonito, Eagle Creek, Cedar Creek and Rio Ruidoso drainages as well as downstream along the Rio Hondo," the warning added. "Impacts will include but are not limited to all nearby reservoirs, bridges, culverts and roadways associated with these drainages, especially at those points where streams merge. Vulnerable properties in low lying areas are especially at risk. Impacts could extend at least to Picacho, New Mexico. The debris flow can consist of rock, mud, vegetation and other loose materials."
The warning went on to declare people in the impacted areas should "seek higher ground now."
Last week, Joshua Schroeder, the National Weather Service's science and operations officer, told Newsweek that New Mexico's monsoon season began a little earlier than usual this year, contributing to the excessive rain. Daily thunderstorms typically start around July 4, he said, but began roughly 10 to 14 days earlier this year. Burn scars from recent wildfires have contributed to the flood risk.
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