NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NMFA.W 0004September 17, 2026
Flood Warning: Otero, NM
The National Weather Service office in El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa issued a flood warning for Otero in New Mexico, which was in force until 11:15 p.m. local time on September 17. It was the 4th areal flood warning the NWS office in El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa issued in 2026. New Mexico had 37 flood warnings in September 2026, against 5 in an average September of 2008-2025 (New Mexico's flood warnings by year).
ExpiredWarning
In force for 3 hours; it has expired. The agency may have replaced it with a new notice.
The notice
- Issued by
- National Weather Service, El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM
- Area
- Otero
- State
- New Mexico
- Level
- Warning
- Issued
- 8:17 p.m. MDT, September 17, 2026
- Expires
- 11:15 p.m. MDT, September 17, 2026
- CAP severity, certainty, urgency
- Severe, Likely, Expected
- VTEC event
- KEPZ FA.W 0004
- Official source
- National Weather Service: the notice at its source
Flood Warnings in New Mexico since 2008Every warning type in New Mexico
Source: National Weather Service: the notice at its source. AreaZine rebuilds this page from the agency's record; the agency's page is the one to act on. A U.S. Government work, in the public domain.
The notice as issued
* WHAT...Small stream flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected. * WHERE...Northwestern Otero County in south central New Mexico... * WHEN...Until 1115 PM MDT. * IMPACTS...Flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations is imminent or occurring. Streams continue to rise due to excess runoff from earlier rainfall. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 817 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to thunderstorms. Flooding is already occurring in the warned area. Between 2 and 2.5 inches of rain have fallen. - Some locations that will experience flooding include... Mescalero, Tularosa and Bent. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
What the agency told people to do
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding. In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded roads. Find an alternate route.
Source: National Weather Service: the notice at its source. The text is the agency's, unedited. A U.S. Government work, in the public domain.