A Flash Flood Emergency is in effect in southern New Mexico after county officials and dam operators reported the imminent failure of McLeod Dam.
A barrage of severe thunderstorms is triggering flash flooding across a wide stretch of New Mexico and Arizona.
The National Weather Service offices in El Paso/Santa Teresa, Albuquerque and Tucson have issued a string of Flash Flood Warnings and Severe Thunderstorm Warnings as repeated rounds of heavy rain move through the region.
McLeod Dam: A Particularly Dangerous Situation
The most serious threat is in northwestern Dona Ana County, where dam operators and county officials reported the imminent failure of McLeod Dam on the McLeod Arroyo.
The Flash Flood Emergency runs until 4:45 p.m. MDT.
Forecasters labeled the threat a particularly dangerous situation and urged anyone in low-lying areas below the dam to seek higher ground immediately.
Rural areas between Garfield and Salem, including portions of Highways 187 and 390 and the Garfield Drain and Canal, are directly in the path.
The National Weather Service rated the flash flood damage threat as catastrophic for this warning, its highest category.
Widespread Flooding Across Southern New Mexico
Beyond the dam emergency, Flash Flood Warnings have been issued repeatedly through the afternoon for Dona Ana, Sierra and Luna counties.
Heavy rain moving into the Hatch Valley brought rainfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour, worsening flooding in Rincon and on low water crossings throughout the area.
Forecasters say Highway 185 between mile markers 21 and 33 faces severe flooding, and Highway 154 is also likely to flood.
Other warnings cover Leasburg, Radium Springs and the Jornada Experimental Range, where torrential rain has repeatedly redeveloped flooding in arroyos and low-lying areas.
Farther south, a Flash Flood Warning covers northwestern Otero County, where a line of thunderstorms moved through the Sacramento Mountains with rainfall rates up to 4 inches per hour.
Mescalero, Tularosa, Bent and La Luz are among the communities at risk, along with arroyos that flow west, including Tularosa Creek.
NWS El Paso shared the warning as the storm moved through Otero County.
Severe Storms Add Wind and Hail Risk
NWS El Paso has also issued a series of Severe Thunderstorm Warnings for Otero County, with storms capable of 60 mph wind gusts and penny-size hail.
Alamogordo, Sunspot, White Sands National Park and Holloman Air Force Base have all been in the path of these storms through the afternoon.
Forecasters warned that a tornado is possible with these storms and that torrential rainfall accompanying them could quickly lead to flash flooding on top of the wind and hail threat.
Burn Scar Flooding Near Ruidoso
NWS Albuquerque has issued a life-threatening Flash Flood Warning for the South Fork and McBride burn scars in south central Lincoln County.
Heavy rain over the burn scar threatens Upper Canyon, Brady Canyon and Perk Canyon, along with the Cedar Creek, Eagle Creek and Rio Ruidoso drainages.
Ruidoso, Ruidoso Downs, Alto, Glencoe and San Patricio are all included in the warning. Forecasters say debris flows of rock, mud and vegetation are possible.
A separate warning covers southeastern Socorro County, where up to 1.5 inches of rain has already fallen near Socorro, San Antonio and the Bosque del Apache Refuge, with flooding already occurring on Interstate 25 and Highway 380.
Arizona: Graham, Greenlee and Cochise Counties
In Arizona, NWS Tucson has issued Flash Flood Warnings for southeastern Graham and southern Greenlee counties, where 1 to 2 inches of rain have already fallen near Safford, Clifton, Morenci and Duncan.
Route 191, Route 78, Route 75 and Route 70 all have sections at risk of flooding.
Cochise County has seen multiple rounds of warnings as storms moved through Sierra Vista, Tombstone, Willcox, Bowie and Fort Huachuca, with 1 to 2 inches of rain falling in some spots.
Numerous washes, including the San Pedro River, Babocomari River and Walnut Gulch, are expected to run high.
Tucson Metro and Surrounding Areas
A Flash Flood Warning also covered east central Pima County and northwestern Cochise County, including Tucson, Sahuarita, Green Valley and Vail.
Interstate 19 and Interstate 10 both faced possible flooding as storms moved through.
NWS Tucson said the heaviest storms were beginning to shift east as the afternoon wore on.
Safety Reminders
Anyone below McLeod Dam is urged to move to higher ground immediately rather than wait for further instructions.
Drivers across both states are reminded to turn around rather than drive through flooded roads, since most flood deaths happen in vehicles.
Arroyos, washes and rivers can turn into dangerous currents within minutes, even far from where rain is falling.
For live updates, follow NWS El Paso, NWS Albuquerque and NWS Tucson.
