Flash flooding kills 3 overnight in New Mexico, police say, as serious flood threat ramps up for Southwest
By Meteorologist Tyler Ory, CNN
(CNN) — Three people drowned after being swept away by flash flooding in New Mexico early Wednesday, police say, as more rounds of unusually intense rain target the Southwest.
Officers responded at around 12:30 a.m. local time to a report of three people washed away by flooding near Newcomb, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation. Police discovered two adults and one juvenile on scene, the Navajo Police Department said in a statement. All three were pronounced dead. The department declined to provide further details about the deaths when contacted by CNN, citing concern for the family’s privacy.
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Rainfall over Newcomb began Tuesday afternoon around 4:30 p.m. and lingered intermittently until just after midnight. The area saw around 0.5 inches to 1 inch of rain in total, with most of it falling within an hour Tuesday evening.
New Mexico as well as Arizona, Utah and Colorado are facing a serious flood threat Wednesday into Thursday as a surge of moisture arrives in the region. Nearly 8 million people remain under a flash flood watch until Thursday morning across those states.
A rare Level 3 of 4 threat of flooding rainfall is in effect for parts of New Mexico and south-central Arizona, including Phoenix and Tucson. This is the most significant flood threat issued for Phoenix since 2022.
Flood threat intensifies
Storms began ramping up over Arizona and New Mexico Wednesday afternoon, with several flash flood warnings being issued since 10:30 a.m. MT. The widespread flooding rain threat will last until approximately 11:00 p.m. MT, but may linger in isolated areas.
Over 3 inches of rain fell in just three hours around the Phoenix metro area midday Wednesday, and there’s more on the way.
First responders were called to a water rescue just south of Phoenix for a car stuck in floodwater with two people inside, CNN affiliate KTVK reported, citing the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.
These storms are tapping into unusually moisture-rich air being pulled north from Baja California. More than a month’s worth of rainfall could fall in just a few hours.
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Soil across the region is generally dry and compacted, so rainfall quickly runs off the surface rather than soaking in. When combined with steep and narrow terrain, that runoff can quickly turn into fast-moving flash floods, sometimes far from where the heaviest rain actually fell.
New Mexico’s Sacramento Mountains near Ruidoso are particularly at risk for flash flooding and debris flows due to the wildfire-scarred ground that absorbs even less water than the surrounding terrain typically does. The fast-moving mix of mud, rock and burned vegetation can be even more destructive than floodwater alone.
Hikers at the Grand Canyon, Utah’s Zion National Park and other wilderness areas s hould be on alert for sudden flooding, since normally dry ground, including slot canyons, can quickly fill with surging floodwater.
Drier air will put an end to the flood risk for Phoenix and Tucson by Thursday, but the threat will continue into the weekend for New Mexico.
This flooding is unfolding during the Southwest monsoon, when shifting winds pull moisture into the US Southwest, fueling thunderstorms. The monsoon season typically runs from mid-June through September, with the region now in its final stretch.
Extreme rainfall is becoming more common as planet-warming pollution pushes global temperatures higher because warmer air can hold more moisture.
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