NWS Albuquerque NMFA.W 0003September 17, 2026
Flood Warning: Chaves and Lincoln, NM
The National Weather Service office in Albuquerque issued a flood warning for Chaves and Lincoln in New Mexico, which was in force until 10:30 p.m. local time on September 17. It was the 3rd areal flood warning the NWS office in Albuquerque 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 6 hours; it has expired. The agency may have replaced it with a new notice.
The notice
- Issued by
- National Weather Service, Albuquerque NM
- Area
- Chaves and Lincoln
- State
- New Mexico
- Level
- Warning
- Issued
- 4:32 p.m. MDT, September 17, 2026
- Expires
- 10:30 p.m. MDT, September 17, 2026
- CAP severity, certainty, urgency
- Severe, Likely, Expected
- VTEC event
- KABQ FA.W 0003
- 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...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected. * WHERE...Southeastern Lincoln County in central New Mexico... West Central Chaves County in southeastern New Mexico... * WHEN...Until 1030 PM MDT. * IMPACTS...Flood waters are expected in Whitetail Canyon which will flow into the Rio Felix this afternoon through this evening. Flooding of these areas and other adjacent low-lying and flood-prone locations is imminent. Water levels will continue to rise due to excess runoff from today's rainfall. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 428 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to thunderstorms near Whitetail in the Sacramento Mountains. Flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly in the warned area. Between 3 and 5 inches of rain have fallen. - Additional rainfall amounts up to 1 inch are possible in the warned area. - Some locations that will experience flooding include... Mainly rural areas of Southeastern Lincoln and West Central Chaves Counties. - Impacts are expected within Whitetail Canyon, along Picacho Road including Clements Ranch, in and along the Rio Felix. - 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.
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.