Record Flash Flooding In Ruidoso Claims Three Lives!
Flood Watch
Flood Watch
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
232 AM MDT Wed Jul 9 2025
NMZ226-091815-
/O.NEW.KABQ.FA.A.0021.250709T1800Z-250710T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
South Central Mountains-
232 AM MDT Wed Jul 9 2025
...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM NOON MDT TODAY UNTIL 9 PM THIS
EVENING...
* WHAT...Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible.
* WHERE...A portion of central New Mexico, including the following
area, South Central Mountains.
* WHEN...From noon MDT today through this evening.
* IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers,
creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.
Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Flooding may occur
in poor drainage and urban areas. Low-water crossings may be
flooded. Storm drains and ditches may become clogged with debris.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- High resolution models depict showers and thunderstorms
regenerating for a few hours this afternoon just west of
Ruidoso, where atmospheric moisture remains sufficiently high
for rain rates up to 1 inch per hour. A second round of
showers and thunderstorms is also forecast to pass southward
over the Ruidoso area early this evening. Rapid runoff is
expected to develop below recent burn scars, where the ground
is already saturated from two consecutive days of heavy
rainfall and flash flooding.
- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action
should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.
&& $$ 44
New Mexico CoCoRaHS (Ruidoso Area) 24 & 72-Hour Rainfall Reports.
Editor’s Note: The Village of Ruidoso confirmed late Tuesday night that three people died in the flooding. This story has been updated with that information. This is a developing story; KRQE News 13 will provide updates as it becomes available.
RUIDOSO, N.M. (KRQE) – Devastation has hit Ruidoso again. Tuesday night, three people died, dozens had to be rescued, and homes were destroyed after violent flash flooding. Late Tuesday night, the Village of Ruidoso confirmed that a four-year-old girl, seven-year-old boy, and a 40 to 50-year old man were swept downstream and killed. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has declared a state of emergency, requesting federal response teams for the area. She added the state has already sent support and some federal resources are already on their way.
“Our hearts are broken for the families who have lost their loved ones in this terrible tragedy,” said Mayor Lynn Crawford in a news release. “The entire Village of Ruidoso extends our deepest sympathy and compassion to these grieving families during this unimaginably difficult time. We are united in our sorrow and our commitment to supporting one another as we face this devastating loss together.”
Historic flooding caused the Rio Ruidoso to rise to 20 feet, five feet higher than the previous record. Flooding caused an entire home to be swept away. “We started the morning with a flash flood watch from the National Weather Service, so we knew there was something probably on the horizon,” said Village of Ruidoso Public Information Officer Kerry Gladden.
Only hours later, that watch became an emergency. “On the north end of town, we were starting to see some significant flooding,” said Gladden.
Flash flooding tore through parts of Ruidoso Tuesday afternoon, impacting areas around Upper Canyon, Brady Canyon, and the Rio Ruidoso. “I don’t think it was a shock because we were prepared, but you know you certainly don’t want to see it happen on this scale,” said Gladden.
Last summer, the South Fork Fire devastated the village, and then burn scar flooding caused even more damage. Yet, many are saying what happened Tuesday is the worst they’ve seen so far, and village officials agree. “We had one of our water gauges, which we call the Hollywood gauge, and it’s down at the end of Ruidoso in between Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs, and it saw a historical high of twenty feet,” said Gladden.
Up from 15 feet just last year, Gladden said, swift water rescue crews quickly got to work. “There was one home that was swept away, I do not know, I don’t have any confirmation if there was anyone inside,” said Gladden.
Ruidoso Downs Race Track crews had begun restoring the track earlier this year, putting in culverts and a retention basin to help with flooding.
Video from Tuesday shows flood water taking over the track, overpowering those flood mitigation efforts that worked just two weeks ago.
Gladden said this is the village’s new reality for the next few years. She hopes in light of the tragedy in Texas, everyone takes these warnings seriously.
Ruidoso officials said that there were 50-60 rescues made Tuesday. Search and rescue operations were still underway Tuesday night. A few people were taken to the hospital.
656 NWUS55 KABQ 090233 LSRABQ Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 833 PM MDT Tue Jul 8 2025 ..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON... ..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS.. 0255 PM Flash Flood 1 WNW Ruidoso 33.33N 105.69W 07/08/2025 Lincoln NM Emergency Mngr 5 ft of water over Main Bridge 1. 0258 PM Flash Flood 1 WNW Ruidoso 33.33N 105.69W 07/08/2025 Lincoln NM Emergency Mngr Propane Tanks loose and in the floodwaters. 0302 PM Flash Flood Ruidoso 33.33N 105.68W 07/08/2025 Lincoln NM Emergency Mngr Fast moving water and Debris over Mechem. 0306 PM Flash Flood 1 WNW Ruidoso 33.33N 105.69W 07/08/2025 Lincoln NM Public Home impacted by floodwaters. 0306 PM Flash Flood 1 ENE Ruidoso 33.33N 105.67W 07/08/2025 Lincoln NM Emergency Mngr Eagle Bridge Over topped. 0308 PM Flash Flood 1 WNW Ruidoso 33.33N 105.69W 07/08/2025 Lincoln NM Emergency Mngr Swiftwater team needed for car trapped in water with occupants. 0309 PM Flash Flood Ruidoso 33.34N 105.68W 07/08/2025 Lincoln NM Emergency Mngr Mechem shut down by flows out of Brady Canyon at this location. 0313 PM Flash Flood 1 WNW Ruidoso 33.33N 105.69W 07/08/2025 Lincoln NM Emergency Mngr Home flooding. Occupant trapped. 0314 PM Flash Flood 1 NNW Ruidoso 33.34N 105.69W 07/08/2025 Lincoln NM Emergency Mngr Range Rover Swept away, unoccupied house flooding. 0315 PM Flash Flood 2 NNE Ruidoso 33.35N 105.67W 07/08/2025 Lincoln NM Emergency Mngr Heavy flows across road. 0318 PM Flash Flood 2 SSE Alto 33.37N 105.67W 07/08/2025 Lincoln NM Public Road closed, heavy flows out of Alpine Village. 0319 PM Flash Flood 1 NNE Ruidoso 33.35N 105.67W 07/08/2025 Lincoln NM Emergency Mngr Road closed. Heavy flows coming out of Cedar Creek. 0324 PM Flash Flood 2 SSE Alto 33.37N 105.67W 07/08/2025 Lincoln NM Emergency Mngr Water flowing through storefront. 0325 PM Flash Flood 1 W Hollywood 33.32N 105.66W 07/08/2025 Lincoln NM Emergency Mngr Water over the road. Sudderth Closed. 0326 PM Flash Flood Hollywood 33.33N 105.63W 07/08/2025 Lincoln NM Emergency Mngr Gavilan Bridge Overtopped by flows. 0326 PM Flash Flood 1 NE Ruidoso 33.34N 105.66W 07/08/2025 Lincoln NM Emergency Mngr Water and debris over Paradise and Starlite. Car stuck in flows. 0329 PM Flash Flood 1 ENE Ruidoso 33.33N 105.67W 07/08/2025 Lincoln NM Emergency Mngr Video of house floating down river behind Downshift brewing. 0330 PM Flash Flood 1 WNW Ruidoso 33.33N 105.69W 07/08/2025 Lincoln NM Emergency Mngr Corrects previous flash flood report from 1 WNW Ruidoso. Hummingbird Lane and Slay Road are washed out. Houses are in the water. 0335 PM Flash Flood 2 NE Ruidoso 33.36N 105.66W 07/08/2025 Lincoln NM Emergency Mngr Road closed due to fast moving flooding. 0336 PM Flash Flood Hollywood 33.33N 105.64W 07/08/2025 Lincoln NM Emergency Mngr Water flowing through at least 5 homes. 0338 PM Flash Flood Hollywood 33.33N 105.64W 07/08/2025 Lincoln NM Emergency Mngr Water over baseball field and hesco baskets. 0343 PM Flash Flood 1 ENE Hollywood 33.33N 105.62W 07/08/2025 Lincoln NM Emergency Mngr Occupied car washed into bridge. Swiftwater rescues underway. 0344 PM Flash Flood 1 W Hollywood 33.32N 105.65W 07/08/2025 Lincoln NM Emergency Mngr Father and two children washed away. SW crews in pursuit. 0349 PM Flash Flood Hollywood 33.33N 105.63W 07/08/2025 Lincoln NM Emergency Mngr Multiple rescues underway at Gavilan Trailer Park. Homes starting to be moved by water. 0405 PM Flash Flood 1 W Hollywood 33.32N 105.65W 07/08/2025 Lincoln NM Emergency Mngr RV destroyed. People trapped in debris. 0411 PM Flash Flood 1 WSW Ruidoso Downs 33.33N 105.62W 07/08/2025 Lincoln NM Emergency Mngr Rescue underway for one person trapped in water. 0429 PM Flash Flood 3 SE Alto 33.37N 105.64W 07/08/2025 Lincoln NM Emergency Mngr Elderly female trapped in home in need of rescue from flood waters. 0525 PM Flash Flood 1 ENE Ruidoso Downs 33.34N 105.59W 07/08/2025 Lincoln NM Emergency Mngr 1 adult 2 children trapped and needing rescue via LMTV. 0527 PM Flash Flood Ruidoso Downs 33.33N 105.61W 07/08/2025 Lincoln NM Public West end of racetrack compromised. && $$
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