EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The National Weather Service (NWS) in Albuquerque issued a Flash Flood Warning for South Central Lincoln County on Wednesday, June 19, as wildfires continue to grow throughout the Ruidoso, New Mexico area.
The NWS says the warning started at 1:55 p.m. and will last until 5 p.m. Wednesday.
The NWS says at 1:55 p.m., the Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area and between 0.25 and 0.5 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1 inch are possible in the warned area.
“Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. Excessive rainfall will impact the South Fork burn scar. The debris flow can consist of rock, mud, vegetation, and other loose materials,” the NWS said.
The NWS also issued a Flash Flood Watch for areas near McBride, Blue 2, and nearby burned areas in effect from 3 p.m. Mountain Time Wednesday afternoon through Wednesday night.
The NWS says the following areas will experience flash flooding:
Ruidoso
Ruidoso Downs
Alto
Hollywood
Due to the Flash Flood Warning for the Blue 2 and South Fork Fires that was just issued by the National Weather Service, the Ruidoso Office of Emergency Management is pulling all operations out of the following areas:
Upper Canyon
Eagle Drive
Sleepy Hollow
Country Club
Lower Gavilan
Lower Paradise Canyon
Two Rivers
Carrizo Canyon
As the units and crews leave these areas, they will be evacuating anyone who is still in the area to higher ground.
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