Torrential rain has continued threatening communities across New Mexico, prompting a flood watch to remain in place until 6 a.m. Mountain Time on Thursday morning.
New Mexico has faced multiple environmental threats over the past two weeks. On June 17, a wildfire prompted the immediate evacuation of 7,000 residents in Ruidoso. Last Wednesday, a severe storm brought hail and excessive rain to the region, stranding cars as water washed over a highway.
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After impacting the southern part of the state, the system moved north, bringing excessive rainfall and the threat of flash flooding to several communities. Heavy rains have persisted in the region, prompting the National Weather Service to issue another flood watch for the Albuquerque region on Wednesday night.
A map from the NWS shows that New Mexico communities most likely to be impacted include "portions of central, north central, and northeast New Mexico, including the following areas, in central New Mexico, South Central Mountains. In north central New Mexico, East Slopes Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Jemez Mountains and Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains. In northeast New Mexico, Northeast Highlands."
![Map Shows Desert Torrential Rain](https://d.newsweek.com/en/full/2418064/map-shows-desert-torrential-rain.png?w=1200&f=3bedec0c91433944e8a73575eea17dd1)
NWS meteorologist Brian Guyer previously told Newsweek that the impacted region is the high desert and usually only receives 1 to 4 inches of rain in a month. Last week, flooding was so severe that meteorologists urged people to "climb to safety" should they encounter floodwaters.
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"Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible," the NWS office in Albuquerque said in its most recent flood watch. "Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations."
Newsweek reached out to NWS Albuquerque by phone for comment.
The flash flood watch also impacts other states in the Four Corners region, including western Colorado and eastern Utah.
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"A strong surge of subtropical moisture combined with a weak upper level disturbance raises the potential for excessive rainfall across the region," the NWS office in Grand Junction, Colorado, said. "Though storms will not be slow moving, training echoes and rainfall rates in excess of 2 inches per hour are possible. Slick rock areas and slot canyons are at greatest risk, but urban flooding is also a concern."
The NWS said monsoon-like conditions were producing excessive rainfall. However, the storms are expected to move eastward on Friday.
"Monsoon-like conditions will persist over the Four Corners region Thursday with the upper-level high overhead continuing to steer tropical moisture northward. The upper-level trough arriving from the west will help to encourage scattered thunderstorms with the threat for locally heavy downpours," the NWS said.
"A Slight Risk of Excessive Rainfall covers portions of western New Mexico north through western Colorado and far eastern Utah for the risk of some flash flooding. The trough will help to break down the upper-high as it moves eastward on Friday, helping to reduce the influx of moisture and keep the highest storm chances and risk for some isolated flash flooding limited to southeastern Arizona."
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About the writer
Anna Skinner is a Newsweek senior reporter based in Indianapolis. Her focus is reporting on the climate, environment and weather ... Read more