A dangerous surge of monsoon moisture is set to spread widespread heavy rain and flash flooding across most of New Mexico and into West Texas from Tuesday through Thursday.
Four separate Flood Watches are now in effect, stretching from the Albuquerque and Santa Fe metro areas south to El Paso and east to the Guadalupe Mountains, as forecasters warn of rainfall rates over 2 inches per hour and storm totals as high as 6 inches in some spots.
Central and Northern New Mexico: Albuquerque and Santa Fe at Risk
The NWS Albuquerque office issued the state’s broadest Flood Watch, running from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday afternoon, and covering the Middle Rio Grande Valley including the Albuquerque metro area, the Santa Fe metro area, the Espanola Valley, the Estancia Valley, and mountain and highland zones spanning central, east central, north central, northeast and southeast New Mexico.
Forecasters expect rain totals to exceed 2 inches in many areas along and east of the central mountain chain, with training thunderstorms capable of dumping 4 to 6 inches over parts of central and eastern New Mexico. Storms producing rain at rates over 2 inches per hour will raise the risk of rapid runoff, especially below recent burn scars, in urban areas, and in normally dry arroyos.
Dangerous monsoon moisture surge will cross Tue thru Thu with heavy rain, flash flooding, and river and tributary flooding. Heavy rain will become more localized Friday with a continued risk of flash flooding. Storm coverage and rain intensity will decrease this weekend. #NMWxpic.twitter.com/KO0UoXqKEa
— NWS Albuquerque (@NWSAlbuquerque) September 21, 2026
Southern New Mexico and El Paso: A Slow-Moving Threat
The NWS El Paso/Santa Teresa office continued a Flood Watch from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday evening for a wide stretch of southern New Mexico, including the Silver City area, the Mesilla Valley, Truth or Consequences, the Sacramento Mountains, and Alamogordo, along with El Paso County and the Hueco Mountains area of West Texas…