A passing cold front through southeast New Mexico Sunday produced heavy rains and flood damage in Roswell with more rain predicted through Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
Chaves County NWS Skywarn Coordinator Jim Tucker said over three inches of rain fell in northeast Roswell Sunday and 1.40 inches fell on Roswell’s west side.
He said a bridge collapsed from high, running water south of Roswell and flood water clogged a storm drain in north Roswell.
Tucker said there was a 50 percent chance of rain for Roswell and Chaves County on Monday and Tuesday.
Heavy rain was not limited to Chaves County. Eddy County Emergency Manager Jennifer Armendariz said some damage was also reported in Eddy County.
The New Mexico State University Agricultural Sciences Center south of Artesia received 2.51 inches from Sunday’s storm. For the year 4.17 inches of rain has fallen.
Samantha Zuber with the NWS in Midland, Texas said other locations between Artesia and Carlsbad received more than two inches of rain and radar estimated a storm dropped around three inches of rain in southeast Eddy County Sunday.
More:‘We need rain’: Southeast New Mexico wildfire risk grows as northern region burns
She said Eddy County would get a break from the rain Monday as forecast chances were 20 to 25 percent.
Zuber said another weather system passing through Eddy County could produce a 40 to 50 percent chance of rain Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday night.
Rain chances for Carlsbad were 30 percent for Wednesday afternoon. Dry weather was forecast for Thursday by the NWS and rain chances returned for the Fourth of July weekend.
Lightning caused fire near Queen
Located near Lonesome Ridge in the Guadalupe Mountains on the Guadalupe Ranger District in the Lincoln National Forest, the Lonesome Fire burned nearly 13 acres.
The fire was first reported Saturday. Lincoln National Forest Spokesperson Laura Rabon said the area was isolated and fire crews were dropped by helicopter and constructed a fire line.
“Helicopters assisted by dropping buckets of water and two single engine air tankers were dropped retardant in front of the fire. Forward progress of the fire was stopped. The fire is 12.5 acres. The fire also received rain on Sunday,” she said.
More:New Mexico wildfires prompt congressional action from Democrats and Republicans
Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at [email protected] or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.
