Heavy monsoon rainfall triggers Flash Flood Emergency in wildfire-scarred Ruidoso, New Mexico
Intense monsoonal rainfall triggered a Flash Flood Emergency in Ruidoso, New Mexico, on the evening of June 26, 2025, with runoff sweeping across terrain previously burned by wildfires, sending debris-laden floodwaters into roads and residential areas.
Flash flooding in Ruidoso, New Mexico on June 26, 2025. Credit: Jesus Figueroa
A Flash Flood Emergency was issued for parts of Ruidoso, New Mexico, at approximately 18:00 local time (00:00 UTC) on June 26, after heavy monsoonal rainfall fell on burn-scarred terrain.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Albuquerque, the area received 25–50 mm (1–2 inches) of rain in under one hour, which overwhelmed the compromised soil and runoff systems.
The affected region includes portions of terrain burned during the 2022 McBride Fire and the more recent 2024 South Fork Fire.
Burn scars are known to drastically reduce soil infiltration, accelerating surface runoff and debris movement during rainfall events. The hydrophobic soil conditions and steep terrain contribute to rapid overland flow wherein mud-laden floodwaters inundate roadways and residential areas.
Emergency crews responded to multiple swift-water rescues and reported significant debris accumulation across transport routes. Several roads were closed, and one roadway in Upper Canyon was partially washed out. No fatalities or missing persons have been reported so far. No large-scale evacuations were ordered as well, although residents were advised to avoid flood-prone zones and not to drive through inundated areas.
FLASH FLOODS: Monsoon storms have led to flash flooding in Ruidoso, New Mexico, today. The town was ravaged by a wildfire and subsequent flash floods just last year. More: https://t.co/7QEMGaZILl pic.twitter.com/JKvRcD530g
— FOX Weather (@foxweather) June 23, 2025
Visuals captured by residents and local media show floodwaters rushing through narrow canyon passages, pushing large debris and damaging structures along stream beds. Local authorities set up emergency response centers and issued repeated advisories warning of unstable terrain and the potential for renewed flooding as rainfall continued in the region.
Meteorologists forecast reduced precipitation over the weekend, followed by another monsoonal moisture surge in early July. Burn scars across the Southwest remain a big point of concern for flash flooding under even moderate rainfall due to increased runoff potential and lack of permeability.
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