FloodZoneMap.org

Flash Flood — Chaves, NM

May 31, 2021

A stalled low pressure system remained to the southwest of New Mexico while an anomalously moist air mass also stayed in place on May 31, 2021. With sufficient instability and shear, showers and thunderstorms developed early in the day thanks to an additional upper-level disturbance. The heavy rain that fell over south central and southeast New Mexico the previous day provided a saturated ground that was ripe for more flash flooding. Early morning storms over Chaves County produced heavy rainfal

Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database (event 953289). Narrative written by NWS staff at the time of the event.

Flood Risk Context for Chaves, NM

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

View Chaves County flood data →

More Flood Stories

Flash Flood4 deaths

Chaves, NM · Jul 14, 1996

A woman and three children drowned when the car they were riding was swept off the pavement into Walnut Creek. The normally dry creek was running 4 feet deep over a dip in the road following heavy rain of 2 to 4 inches on the watershed 12 to 18 miles to the west.

Read the full account →
Flash Flood2 deaths$500.0M damage

Chaves, NM · Oct 19, 2024

An anomalously strong upper low from the west over AZ resulted in shower activity across western NM on October 18th resulting in some high wind gusts across parts of western and central NM.

Read the full account →
Flash Flood$10.0M damage

Chaves, NM · Oct 19, 2024

An anomalously strong upper low from the west over AZ resulted in shower activity across western NM on October 18th resulting in some high wind gusts across parts of western and central NM.

Read the full account →
Flash Flood$500K damage

Chaves, NM · Oct 19, 2024

An anomalously strong upper low from the west over AZ resulted in shower activity across western NM on October 18th resulting in some high wind gusts across parts of western and central NM.

Read the full account →