A surge of tropical moisture from the remnants of Hurricane Polo is colliding with two merging storm systems over the Southwest, and the National Weather Service has blanketed nearly all of New Mexico and much of Arizona with Flood Watches.
The Albuquerque office is warning of the “potential for life threatening flash flooding” through late Tuesday night.
Anyone visiting Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Sedona, the Grand Canyon or Tucson this week should expect disrupted outdoor plans and hazardous conditions in canyons, washes and arroyos.
New Mexico: Statewide Flash Flood Threat
The NWS office in Albuquerque has watches covering both sides of the central mountain chain through late Tuesday night, September 29.
The western zone includes Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Taos, Los Alamos, Espanola, Socorro, Grants, Gallup, Farmington and Ruidoso. The eastern zone, starting at 6 p.m. Monday, covers Raton, Las Vegas, Clovis, Portales, Tucumcari, Santa Rosa and Roswell.
Forecasters describe a near-record to record surge of moisture falling on rain-soaked soil, bringing a moderate to high risk of flash flooding. Burn scars are a major concern, including those around Ruidoso and the Frijoles, Sacaton, Hummingbird and Whiskey scars.
In the south, the El Paso/Santa Teresa office covers Las Cruces, Alamogordo, Silver City, Deming, Truth or Consequences, Cloudcroft and White Sands National Park, with up to 4 inches of rain possible. The Midland office adds Carlsbad, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Hobbs, Artesia and Lovington starting Monday evening.
Arizona: From the Grand Canyon to the Sky Islands
The Flagstaff office has a watch for all of northern and central Arizona through Tuesday evening, including Flagstaff, Sedona, Prescott, Payson, Page, Show Low, Williams and Grand Canyon Village. Forecasters warn of flooding at swimming holes, washes and highway underpasses, and possible rises on the Little Colorado River.
The Tucson office covers all of southeast Arizona through Tuesday evening, including Tucson, Nogales, Sierra Vista, Bisbee, Safford and Mount Lemmon. Valley locations could see 1 to 2 inches of rain, with 2 to 4 inches in the Sky Islands and White Mountains.
Just north, the Grand Junction office also has southeast Utah under a watch, including Monument Valley’s Goulding, Bluff, Moab-area Spanish Valley and Canyonlands National Park.
Safety Tips for Southwest Travelers
- Stay out of slot canyons, washes and arroyos. Flash floods can arrive from storms miles away under clear skies.
- Never cross a flooded dip or low-water crossing; these are common on rural Southwest roads.
- Check park alerts on the Grand Canyon and other National Park Service pages before hiking.
- Monitor road conditions via AZ511 and NMRoads.
Be prepared to act immediately if a Flash Flood Warning is issued for your area. More guidance is on the NWS flood safety page.
