Flash Flooding in New Mexico, September 26 to 27, 2004

A prolonged period of widespread heavy rainfall began over the plains of southeastern New Mexico late on Saturday the 25th. By the early hours of Sunday the 26th, extensive flash flooding was occurring in Lea County. At 02:30 MST high water was reported flowing over State Highway 483 seven miles south of Lovington. Additional flash flooding occurred along a corridor from Lovington to Monument through early Monday the 27th. Before daybreak Sunday morning, flash flooding caused high water to inundate State Highway 8, four miles north of Monument. A swollen draw near monument also produced flash flooding that covered several secondary roadways with flowing water.Showers and thunderstorms continued to move northwest over Lea County during the afternoon and early evening hours. Numerous roads and highways in the vicinity of Lovington were affected by flash flooding by 20:00 MST. Flood waters submerged U.S. Highway 82 from Lovington to three miles west of the city. A short-lived break in convective activity occurred during the late evening. Flash flooding continued, however, as runoff maintained flash flooding conditions over U.S. Highway 82 near Lovington.Bands of showers and thunderstorms redeveloped by midnight MST over southern and central Lea County. This activity aggravated the flash flooding near Lovington along U.S. Highway 82 and caused additional flash flooding that affected several secondary roadways.Moderate to occasionally heavy rainfall continued over central Lea County through early morning on Monday the 27th. At 12:00 MST local officials reported that U.S. Highway 82 west of Lovington remained closed due to flowing water. Flooding there receded by mid afternoon Monday.

The widespread heavy rain resulted in a second corridor of extensive flash flooding over eastern Lea County from Eunice to north of Hobbs. At 05:45 MST Sunday the 26th, Hobbs officials reported flash flooding that resulted in eight inches of flowing water in many city streets. By 09:57 MST the intersection of U.S. Highway 82 and State Highway 18 was inundated by flowing flood waters twenty-three miles north of Hobbs. At 12:24 MST, a truck stalled in the flooded intersection and local fire department officials conducted a high water rescue to bring the driver to safety.At 12:45 MST Sunday a National Weather Service cooperative observer in Eunice reported a rainfall measurement of six inches since Saturday evening. Several secondary roadways were reported to be underwater in the Eunice area.Additional rainfall throughout the day Sunday aggravated the flash flooding conditions in Hobbs. By 14:50 MST officials reported up to one and a half feet of flowing flood waters in some city streets. The worst flooding was reported along Main Street where several vehicles were stalled.Flash flooding subsided across eastern Lea County by the afternoon hours Sunday.

The widespread heavy rainfall had spread northwest across Eddy County by sunrise Sunday morning. Flash flooding quickly developed along the numerous creeks and draws that transport water from the mountainous areas of southwestern Eddy County toward Carlsbad. At 08:53 MST local officials reported that two and a half feet of flowing water crossed New Mexico State Highway 137 fifteen miles northeast of Queen. By 09:55 MST heavy rainfall over Carlsbad had resulted in more than half a foot of water covering many city streets.Conditions deteriorated through the day as continued heavy rainfall combined with runoff that emptied into Carlsbad through Dark Canyon Draw. By 11:25 MST, several reports indicated that vehicles were stalled in flooded city streets. Additional stranded motorists were rescued from swiftly moving flood waters on Dark Canyon Road near County Road 408 southwest of the city. That intersection was inundated by over seven feet of rapidly flowing water. No injuries were reported.Water running through Dark Canyon Draw continued to enter the southwest side of Carlsbad through late afternoon. At 16:30 MST over six feet of flowing water crossed Hidalgo Street and Dark Canyon Road. Flood waters gradually receded in Carlsbad through the evening hours. By 19:00 MST the heavy rainfall had ended, but the swollen Dark Canyon Draw continued to flood city streets in southwestern Carlsbad with four feet of water. The Carlsbad Police Department reported that all flooding in and around Carlsbad had subsided by 01:00 Monday.

Flash flooding conditions developed in the vicinity of Artesia and Lakewood during the late morning hours of Sunday the 26th. At 10:05 MST, local officials reported that one and a half feet of flowing water crossed the intersection of Fulton and Haldeman Roads one mile southeast of Artesia. Lakewood Road also was inundated by flash flooding between U.S. Highway 285 and Lakewood. In addition, the heavy rainfall caused small creeks and draws to swell. Eagle Draw in Artesia rapidly filled with flood waters and threatened U.S. Highway 82 by 12:00 MST. No reports of injuries or significant damage were received.

Flash flooding along Rocky Arroyo, northwest of Carlsbad, resulted in three to four feet of flowing water over New Mexico State Highway 137, six miles southwest of the U.S. Highway 285 intersection. Although heavy rainfall ended over Eddy County by 19:00 MST, runoff into Rocky Arroyo caused "significant" flash flooding to persist along County Road 401 through midnight MST Monday. The roadway was inundated by flowing water two miles west of New Mexico Highway 137.

Another round of showers and thunderstorms produced heavy rainfall over southern Lea County on the morning of Monday the 27th. Flash flooding along State Highway 128 was reported by the Jal Police Department. High water flowed over the highway twelve miles west of Jal.