Flash flooding kills 3 in New Mexico as prolific storms soak the Southwest

Unusually potent storms triggered flash floods across the normally arid Southwest that killed at least three people and forced water rescues.

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The storms dropped more than a month’s worth of rain in just a few hours north of Phoenix on Wednesday afternoon and caused flash flooding that killed three people in New Mexico.

Helicopter rescues two people from a car stranded in floodwater in Goodyear, Arizona.
Goodyear Fire Department

Officers responded at around 12:30 a.m. local time to a report of three people washed away by flooding near Newcomb, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation. Police discovered two adults and one juvenile on scene, the Navajo Police Department said in a statement. All three were pronounced dead. The department declined to provide further details about the deaths when contacted by CNN, citing concern for the family’s privacy.

“There are no words that can ease the pain of losing a loved one so suddenly, and our hearts are especially heavy knowing that three lives were lost,” Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said in a social media post. “To the family, relatives, and loved ones who are grieving today, we offer our deepest condolences. We pray that you are surrounded by strength, comfort, and the love of your family and community in the difficult days ahead.”

Rainfall over Newcomb began Tuesday afternoon around 4:30 p.m. and lingered intermittently until just after midnight. The area saw around 0.5 inches to 1 inch of rain in total, with most of it falling within an hour Tuesday evening.

Rainfall intensified across the Southwest again on Wednesday, particularly in Arizona. The most drenching storms in the state spared downtown Phoenix, but some of its suburbs were swamped by flash flooding.

Officials reported inundated roads and stranded vehicles where drivers had to be rescued in Scottsdale and Mesa, CNN affiliate KPNX reported. First responders were called to a water rescue just south of Phoenix for a car stuck in floodwater with two people inside, CNN affiliate KTVK reported, citing the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.

The Arizona Dept. of Transportation shared traffic cam images of flooded roadways near Phoenix amid heavy downpours on Wednesday.
Arizona Dept. of Transportation

More than 3 inches of rain fell in just three hours north of Phoenix in Cave Creek, which is about triple September’s average monthly rainfall.

Extreme rainfall is becoming more common as planet-warming pollution pushes global temperatures higher because warmer air can hold more moisture.

The flooding has unfolded during the Southwest monsoon, when shifting winds pull moisture into the region and fuel thunderstorms. The monsoon season typically runs from mid-June through September, with the region now in its final stretch.

Wednesday’s bout of torrential rain was enhanced by a tropical disturbance that tracked into the region from the Gulf of California.

Satellite imagery shows lightning within storms over Arizona and New Mexico Wednesday afternoon.
CIRA/CSU & NOAA

Drier air put an end to the flood threat in Phoenix on Thursday, but drenching downpours will continue in Arizona north and east of there and in parts of New Mexico, Colorado and Utah.

The heavy rain threat will gradually diminish across the rest of the Southwest on Friday and Saturday as drier air spreads across the region.