New Mexico was placed under a Tornado Watch on Thursday for the first time in 28 years, while Arizona had seen its first Tornado Watch in 16 years on Wednesday, according to the FOX Forecast Center. FOX Weather reported a renewed flash-flood threat had expanded across the Four Corners states on Thursday after rare October severe weather slammed Arizona on Wednesday with wind gusts up to 72 mph recorded in Flagstaff, golf-ball-size hail of 1.75 inches in downtown Flagstaff, and widespread flash flooding.
Source: FOX Weather
In New Mexico, the National Weather Service's Tornado Watch 693 remained in effect until 9 p.m. MDT on Thursday for San Juan, Catron, Cibola and McKinley counties, including Farmington, Gallup, Grants, Crownpoint, Datil, Reserve and Zuni Pueblo. Albuquerque's KKOB reported a watch for parts of western New Mexico through 9 p.m., listing additional southern counties in its area. A Flood Watch also remained in effect through late Thursday night for western, central and north-central New Mexico, mainly along and west of the Continental Divide, with fast-moving thunderstorms capable of rain rates over 1 inch per hour and additional totals generally of 0.25 to 1 inch, locally up to 3 inches.
Source: 96.3 News Radio KKOB, Albuquerque
San Juan County was already dealing with flooding on the ground. The Tri-City Record reported road closures throughout Farmington and the county, with county spokesman Devin Neeley saying low-water crossings on Road 4990 were running and that a shelter area had been set up ready if needed. Navajo Police closed Navajo Route 36, which scanner traffic said was flooded and impassable, the paper reported.
Source: Tri-City Record, New Mexico
Farmington Police said they were dealing with flooded and closed roads on San Juan Boulevard, on Main Street at all intersections, and on Navajo Street, where the wash was overflowing, and urged drivers not to attempt to drive through flooded roads, the Tri-City Record reported. The intersection of Pinon and Miller was also closed because of flooding.
Source: Tri-City Record, New Mexico
The San Juan County Sheriff's Office was called to the Navajo Dam area after a phone call raised concerns that someone had been washed away, spokeswoman Rebekah Click told the Tri-City Record, adding that a drone had been launched in the area to search for that person. The paper reported the San Juan River below Navajo Dam was at flood stage. No washed-away victim had been confirmed in the reporting reviewed.
Source: Tri-City Record, New Mexico
The Weather Channel said up to 5 inches of rain is possible in New Mexico and southern Colorado through the end of the week — more than enough for flash flooding in the region — and that a second watch was issued for eastern Arizona and western New Mexico on Thursday. Parts of the Colorado Rockies could also see the first significant snow of the season from the same system.
Source: The Weather Channel — weather.com
A watch means conditions are favourable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and near the watch area. It is not a warning that a tornado has been seen. People in the watch area should stay alert for later warnings and be ready to move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building.
What is solid
- FOX Weather: New Mexico's Tornado Watch on Thursday was its first in 28 years; Arizona's on Wednesday was its first in 16 years.
- NWS Tornado Watch 693 ran until 9 p.m. MDT Thursday for San Juan, Catron, Cibola and McKinley counties in New Mexico.
- Tri-City Record: flooding closed roads in Farmington and San Juan County, Navajo Route 36 was impassable, and the San Juan River below Navajo Dam was at flood stage.
What is only claimed
- The Navajo Dam call raised a concern that someone might have been washed away and a drone search was launched; no victim was confirmed in the reporting reviewed.
- KKOB's watch list included Grant and Hidalgo counties in addition to the four counties in NWS Watch 693, suggesting more than one watch area was in effect on Thursday.