New Mexico Severe Flood Watch | Effective 09/18/2026 10:52

Headline: 
Flood Watch issued September 18 at 11:52AM MDT until September 19 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Event: 
Flood Watch
Urgency: 
Future
Effective: 
September 18, 2026 - 10:52am
Expires: 
September 18, 2026 - 11:00pm
Description: 
* WHAT...Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible. * WHERE...Portions of west central and northwest New Mexico as well as the South Central Mountains and Eastern Lincoln County. This includes the Ruidoso area burn scars. * WHEN...Through this evening. * IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - Soils are very saturated from days of soaking rainfall. Rainfall rates of 1 to 1.5 inches per hour may occur with storms Friday afternoon and evening. Wildfire burn scars, urban areas, communities with underdeveloped infrastructure, complex terrain, and areas where the ground is already saturated are most at risk for rapid runoff and flash flooding. Storms across western New Mexico will end during the evening, but storms could persist as late as Midnight in the Lincoln County portion of the Watch. - http://www.weather.gov/abq/EmergencyPrepFlood
Instruction: 
You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.
Area Description: 
Northwest Plateau; Far Northwest Highlands; Northwest Highlands; West Central Mountains; West Central Highlands; South Central Mountains; Eastern Lincoln County; San Agustin Plains and Adjacent Lowlands
Forcast Office: 
NWS Albuquerque NM
Sender: 
w-nws.webmaster@noaa.gov