Flooding in New Mexico triggers flash flood emergency in Roswell

ROSWELL, NM – Rare flash flood emergencies were declared for parts of New Mexico Saturday evening and Sunday morning after torrential rains and thunderstorms hit the region, sending water pouring into homes and surrounding vehicles as first responders rushed to rescue trapped residents in Roswell.

The relentless rainfall also broke records in the region. The National Weather Service office in Albuquerque said Roswell set an all-time daily rainfall record of 5.78 inches, breaking the previous record of 5.65 inches set in November 1901.

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Chaves County Sheriff Mike Herrington wrote on Facebook early Sunday morning amid the flooding that he was trapped after water surrounded his vehicle.

“At this point I’m sitting on the roof of my police truck,” he said in a video. “At this point, I’m completely surrounded by water.”

As Herrington rotates the camera, several other vehicles can be seen surrounded by the flood as the water rushes by.

“There are multiple vehicles,” he said. “I came here not expecting so much water. And before I knew it, I was swept in there. Several vehicles were also washed away. So to everyone in Chaves County, please stay home and don't go out.”

New Mexico State Police said on X, formerly Twitter, that all roads leading in and out of the Roswell area were closed due to the severe flooding. They have not yet given a time frame for reopening the streets.

Flash flood emergencies have now expired, but flood warnings remain in effect for parts of eastern New Mexico, including cities like Roswell and Las Vegas.

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The NWS said between 4 and 9 inches of rain fell in the Roswell area and many areas were flooded.

“This is an ongoing dangerous flooding situation,” the NWS warned.

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More thunderstorms are also forecast for the area on Sunday, and NOAA's Storm Prediction Center (SPC) placed parts of the region at risk level 2 out of 5 on its 5-point risk scale for severe thunderstorms.

The SPC said the main threats were torrential rain, large hail and damaging wind gusts. There is also a risk of some tornadoes.