Ruidoso, New Mexico — Another afternoon of heavy rain Thursday caused flash flooding in the mountain community of Ruidoso, prompting the closure of highways and the rescue of at least five persons who were trapped by the rushing waters.
This summer, the southern New Mexico hamlet has been hit hard by afternoon thunderstorms that have brought more rain than the neighbouring mountainsides can absorb. Past wildfires have stripped the slopes of trees and plants, making the Ruidoso area prone to flooding.
Less than three weeks ago, catastrophic floods killed three individuals and destroyed hundreds of houses, prompting state and federal disaster declarations.
Residents posted footage on social media Thursday showing walls of muddy water flowing down rivers and over roads, smashing apart a mobile home and toppling trees in the process. Authorities were barring traffic to keep vehicles out of the water, and people watched from higher ground.
The National Weather Service has been issuing flash flood watches and warnings on a regular basis as the summer rainy season continues. They reported Thursday that one stretch of the Rio Ruidoso had risen to about 12.5 feet (3.81 meters) due to burn-scar floods.
Flood watches were also posted Thursday for sections of northern New Mexico along the burn scars left by the 2022 Calf Canyon Hermit’s Peak fires.
