Aug 15, 2023
Abundant monsoon moisture allowed for afternoon thunderstorms to develop over the central mountain chain, including the Sacramento Mountains near Ruidoso. Little to no steering flow allowed for storms to reside over the same location for a long period of time producing locally heavy rainfall. One such incident resulted in flash flooding along the upper Rio Ruidoso just west of Ruidoso near the Lincoln and Otero County line. Floodwaters carried mud, rocks, and debris across Mescalero Lane. Photos
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database (event 1109509). Narrative written by NWS staff at the time of the event.
This event is one of many recorded floods in Lincoln County. See the full FEMA flood zone map, NFIP claim totals, and disaster history for the area.