Flash Flooding Washes out Roads, Forces Evacuations in New Mexico
Flash flooding from a storm over northwestern New Mexico washed out a road near Farmington, collapsed a highway near Turley and forced evacuations in Chama late Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, the National Weather Service's Albuquerque office said.
Earlier the same day, flooding from the same storm washed out New Mexico Highway 170 at two points near Farmington and La Plata, also in San Juan County.
The office's first Local Storm Report said Indian Service Road 36 washed out and became impassable four miles southwest of Farmington, in San Juan County, after flows through an arroyo. A San Juan County emergency manager reported the washout timed at 3:06 p.m. MST.
Twenty-four minutes later, a second Local Storm Report said Highway 173 collapsed and became impassable three miles north of Turley, also in San Juan County. San Juan County law enforcement reported the collapse timed at 3:30 p.m. MST.
About four and a half hours later, a third Local Storm Report said homes were being evacuated in Chama, in Rio Arriba County, because of rising water along a tributary that feeds into the Rio Chama. A trained weather spotter reported the evacuations timed at 8:05 p.m. MST Nov. 1, 2026.
