Monsoonal moisture continues to plague New Mexico with rounds of rain
A Flood Watch is in place through Wednesday for most of New Mexico and far West Texas. A Level 2 out of 4 flash flood risk is also posted for Wednesday.
Roswell, New Mexico, hit by catastrophic flash flooding as monsoon season begins
Catastrophic flash flooding struck the Roswell, New Mexico, area on Sunday, marking the beginning of monsoon rains anticipated across much of central New Mexico this week.
RUIDOSO, N.M. – A surge of monsoon moisture will continue to flow into New Mexico over the next several days, setting the stage for scattered thunderstorms and periods of heavy rain, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
Warning boxes are color coded as: Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in yellow, Tornado Warnings in red, Tornado Warnings with confirmed tornado in purple, Flash Flood Warnings in green, and Flash Flood Emergencies in pink.
(FOX Weather)
Driving this surge of monsoon moisture is the "heat dome" that has been building to the east. The clockwise flow around that massive ridge of high pressure supports the strong southerly flow into the Southwest.
Flash floods rock Ruidoso, New Mexico
Video from the Ruidoso News shows floodwater racing through the New Mexico town on June 23, 2025.
Tuesday appeared to be the peak of this first major monsoon surge. A Level 3 out of 4 threat for flash flooding was in place throughout New Mexico, and many locations were under Flash Flood Warnings, including the city of Albuquerque.
A Flood Watch is in place through Wednesday for most of New Mexico and far West Texas.
(FOX Weather)
This pattern holds through Wednesday, although slightly lower rain totals are expected depending on how much cloud cover lingers from Tuesday. A Level 2 out of 4 flash flood risk is also posted for Wednesday.
As we move toward the end of the week, storm activity should gradually decrease as drier air moves in from the north and west. Flash flood risks will remain elevated, especially in southern New Mexico, but should begin to lessen, the FOX Forecast Center said.
Monsoonal moisture continues to plague New Mexico with rounds of rain
A surge of monsoon moisture continues to flow into New Mexico over the next several days, setting the stage for scattered thunderstorms and periods of heavy rain, according to FOX Forecast Center.
Ruidoso hit hard by flooding Monday
This comes following monsoon moisture that led to storms dumping heavy rain on burn scars left by the fires that ravaged Ruidoso last June. Specifically, the National Weather Service called out the Salt Burn Scar in a Flash Flood Warning that was issued for the area on Monday afternoon.
Video posted on the Ruidoso News Facebook page showed water rushing through the area, with some vehicles trapped in the rapids.
TREASURED DISCOVERIES SURFACE AS NORTH CAROLINA LAKE IS DRAINED DURING HELENE REVITALIZATION
Vehicles were trapped and roads were waterlogged in Riodoso, New Mexico, during flash floods on June 23, 2025.
(Riodoso News/Facebook)
"We are flooding, and this is something that we’re going to have to get used to this year, unfortunately," Eugene Heathman, general manager of Ruidoso News, said in one of the videos. "Be vigilant out there. Be careful."
Storm reports from the NWS showed U.S. Highway 70 was closed at Ruidoso Downs because of flooding. Those reports also showed swift-water rescues were being conducted at a mobile home park and a hotel in nearby Hollywood, New Mexico. No injuries were reported as of Tuesday.