FloodZoneMap.org

Flash Flood — Colfax, NM

Aug 16, 2018

Scattered showers and thunderstorms developed over the higher terrain during the early afternoon before drifting into nearby highlands and valleys through the early evening hours. Upper level high pressure centered over the southern half of New Mexico allowed for weak and erratic steering flow across the state and locally heavy rainfall beneath the stronger storms. A thunderstorm that developed over the north end of the Ute Park burn scar moved slowly south down the Ponil Creek and Cimarron Rive

Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database (event 765637). Narrative written by NWS staff at the time of the event.

Flood Risk Context for Colfax, NM

This event is one of many recorded floods in Colfax County. See the full FEMA flood zone map, NFIP claim totals, and disaster history for the area.

View Colfax County flood data →

More Flood Stories

Flash Flood1 death$50K damage

Colfax, NM · Jun 27, 2015

A backdoor cold front along with northerly flow aloft boosted moisture across northern New Mexico on the 27th. A disturbance within that northerly flow kicked off early morning showers and thunderstorms along and east of the central mountains, moving slowly to the south.

Read the full account →
Flash Flood$10K damage

Colfax, NM · Jul 25, 2013

An upper level disturbance pushed southeast across northern New Mexico and interacted with a stationary frontal boundary in the Rio Grande Valley.

Read the full account →
Flash Flood$50K damage

Colfax, NM · Jul 11, 2022

As a backdoor cold front moved into eastern New Mexico, it replinished moisture and provided favorable upslope to allow for more rigorous thunderstorms on July 11, 2022.

Read the full account →
Flash Flood$1.0M damage

Colfax, NM · Aug 2, 2018

The center of upper level high pressure drifted into New Mexico on August 2nd and led to very slow-moving thunderstorms with torrential rainfall. The area around the Sangre de Cristo Mountains was the hardest hit with flooding.

Read the full account →