Monsoon rains send rivers of mud through New Mexico

A little over one month ago, two wildfires ravaged the mountain village of Ruidoso, New Mexico. Now, the town is in the throes of another natural disaster; flash flooding.

Because of the burn-scarred mountain, instead of water rushing through the streets, it’s mud, trees, and boulders. The debris is adding more complexity to the flooding.

According to our sister station KRQE , over 12 people had to be rescued from floodwaters on Saturday.

The New Mexico National Guard posted on Facebook , calling Saturday’s flooding “intense.” They continued, “You can’t help but feel for these folks. Ruidoso can’t seem to catch a break. But, that’s why we’re here. It’s what we train for, it’s what we have so much experience doing… it’s what we do.”

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has a chance of rain for Ruidoso every day this week. This is the middle of the monsoon season in the southwest, which can bring nearly 50-60% of the area’s annual rainfall.

Monsoon season runs from June 15-September 30 each year. During monsoon season, high pressure forms in the southwest. This area of high pressure creates a clockwise flow, or a conveyor belt of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of California.

N OAA says the monsoon season can be tricky, especially at the beginning. Frequent lightning can accompany monsoon rainfall. While the landscape is still dry, wildfires can be triggered in the air landscape. The wildfire danger usually drops after a few weeks of monsoon season.

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