Families in central New Mexico were urged to flee to higher ground late Friday after torrential rain triggered a rare Flash Flood Emergency in Socorro and nearby Luis Lopez as flooding arrived during a period of heavy monsoon rainfall across New Mexico.
The National Weather Service issued the emergency amid up to six inches of rain fell in parts of the area, warning of a “particularly dangerous situation” and life-threatening flooding.
Residents were told in urgent alerts: “SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW!”
The intense rainfall sent water rushing through streets, low-lying roads, creeks and normally dry arroyos. Flooding also affected major travel routes including Interstate 25 and Highway 60.
Officials warned motorists not to risk driving through floodwater, particularly after dark. Submerged roads and rapidly rising water can be difficult to see, they warned.
The National Weather Service repeatedly urged people to follow the rule: “Turn around, don’t drown.”
Flooding was already being reported in and around Socorro by Friday evening, with the emergency continuing into the early hours of Saturday. Floods had washed out roads in some areas and residents reported being stranded as waterways rose rapidly.
Additional flash flood warnings issued farther east in parts of Curry and Quay counties as these areas had already received another one to two inches of rain, with more storms possible.
Emergency officials had spent days preparing for the threat of heavy rainfall, including positioning sandbags and swift-water resources in vulnerable areas. But the intensity of Friday night’s rainfall overwhelmed some areas, prompting the National Weather Service to warn of potentially catastrophic flooding in the hardest-hit locations.
Authorities continued to advise residents to stay away from flooded roads and swollen waterways, urging motorists to avoid driving through standing water and keep monitoring official weather and emergency alerts.
Officials warned that the flood threat could continue even after the heaviest rain has passed.
