New Mexico braces for significant flood threat

Large areas of the state are under a 3 of 4 flood risk Wednesday.

September 23, 2026, 11:46 AM

New Mexico is preparing for another day of possibly life-threatening floods throughout most of the state after receiving multiple rounds of heavy monsoon rain since Tuesday.

Rain on Tuesday flooded several roads and prompted water rescues near Mora, New Mexico, northeast of Santa Fe, where the town's high school was also flooded. Mora received 5 inches of rain Tuesday.

Flash Flood Threat Map
ABC News

A level 3 of 4 flood risk is in place in large areas of the state, including Santa Fe and White Sands National Park, as well as El Paso, Texas.

The flood watch is scheduled to extend until 6 a.m. local time Thursday. Numerous flash floods are expected.

Rain is forecast to continue throughout Wednesday, with rates reaching up to 2 inches per hour. Between 1 and 3 inches of total rainfall is expected, with some localized areas receiving over 4 inches.

On Thursday, rain will continue but is expected to become more scattered.

Flash Flood Threat Map
ABC News

A level 2 of 4 flood risk is in place on Thursday for much of New Mexico, El Paso, Dodge City, Kansas, and parts of northern Texas due to heavy rain and scattered thunderstorms.

Rain is forecast to ease off in the region on Friday.

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