115
Recorded events
2
Direct deaths
1
Direct injuries
$4.7M
Property damage
Flash Flood in Lincoln County, New Mexico: 115 recorded events between 1996 and 2025. The strongest on record measured 0. That places the county #132 nationally and #2 statewide for this hazard.
Decade by decade
Flash Flood in Lincoln County, New Mexico: events per decade
Reporting practice changed over time — early decades are undercounted, not calmer.
The busiest decade for flash flood in Lincoln County is the 2020s, when 75 of the county's 115 recorded events were logged. Comparing decades is useful for spotting active periods, but the earliest years are thin because systematic reporting for this hazard began later.
Within the Lincoln County archive, flash flood makes up 33.4% of all recorded severe weather across 10 hazard types. Nationally the county sits at #132 for this hazard and #2 within New Mexico, putting it in the 95.8 percentile of all U.S. counties.
Seasonality
Events by month
Jul is the peak month for flash flood in Lincoln County with 48 recorded events, while Jan is the quietest. Seasonality here is a property of the archive as much as the climate: reports cluster where population and spotter networks are densest.
Significant events
Deadliest on record
| Date | Location | Scale | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 30, 2021 | TINNIE | 0 | 1 | 0 | $60K |
| Oct 5, 1996 | CAPITAN | 0 | 1 | 0 | $0 |
| Jul 7, 2013 | ALTO | 0 | 0 | 1 | $0 |
Most recent
Latest recorded events
| Date | Location | Magnitude | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 28, 2025 | RUIDOSO | 0 | $10K |
| Aug 30, 2025 | HOLLYWOOD | 0 | $0 |
| Aug 2, 2025 | HOLLYWOOD | 0 | $0 |
| Aug 1, 2025 | LINCOLN | 0 | $0 |
| Jul 31, 2025 | ALTO | 0 | $50K |
| Jul 31, 2025 | RUIDOSO | 0 | $20K |
| Jul 30, 2025 | ALTO | 0 | $250K |
| Jul 30, 2025 | CARRIZOZO | 0 | $0 |
| Jul 28, 2025 | OSCURO | 0 | $0 |
| Jul 27, 2025 | HOLLYWOOD | 0 | $0 |
Other hazards here
More from Lincoln County
- Hail 134
From the record
What the reports say
Written by National Weather Service staff at the time of the event · public domain
Heavy rainfall in the Hondo area caused widespread flooding of roads and low water crossings. The Lincoln County emergency manager estimated that the Rio Ruidoso rose 4 to 6 feet quickly while Alamo Canyon Road south of U.S. Highway 70 was completely inundated. One individual was in their truck at Alamo Canyon Road and became stuck in the low water crossing when the flood waters inundated it. The individual then either tried to escape or the flood waters pulled them out of their truck. Tragically, they drowned, and their body was found the next day. Damages are estimated for the loss of the truck.
Heavy rain along the Rio Ruidoso caused water to overflow its banks which resulted in flash flooding alongside the river. Several bridges, such as the Main Road Bridge, Gavilan Canyon Bridge, and the Eagle Bridge were overtopped and damaged. The McDaniel Bridge in Upper Canyon was completely destroyed. The City of Ruidoso opened a community center for displaced residents and visitors. Damages are estimated for the structural damage done to the bridges. The New Mexico Governor declared a state of emergency for Lincoln County as a result of the significant flooding.
Multiple rounds of heavy rainfall from thunderstorms impacted the South Fork and Salt Fire burn scars for a second day in a row. This resulted in exacerbated flash flooding and debris flow in the same locations along the Rio Ruidoso. A house near downtown Ruidoso was reported to have been pushed 10 feet due to flash flooding. A busted water line and gas leak were also reported in the area. An SUV with 3 occupants inside floated down the Rio Ruidoso. Thankfully, all 3 occupants were rescued. The worst impacts from this episode of flash flooding and debris flow occurred on U.S. Highway 70 in Hollywood. The highway and its various intersections, including Mechem Drive and Sudderth Drive were shut down. Fast and heavy debris flow resulted in a road collapse near the Sudderth Dr. and U.S. Highway 70 intersection. The debris flowing down U.S. Highway 70 at one point included a large shipping container. Property damage cost is an estimate.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many flash flood events are on record in Lincoln County, New Mexico?
115 flash flood events are recorded in Lincoln County between 1996 and 2025, causing 2 direct deaths.
What is the strongest flash flood recorded in Lincoln County?
The strongest flash flood on record in Lincoln County measured 0.
Where does the flash flood data for Lincoln County come from?
All events come from the NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, the federal public-domain archive of severe weather reports. Dates are UTC, damage is as reported and not inflation-adjusted, and the most recent entries may still be revised.
Cite this page
“Flash Flood in Lincoln County, New Mexico.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/county/new-mexico/lincoln-county/flash-flood/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.