By Jim Hilley — After a rash of road closures in Chaves County due to water on roadways earlier this week, area residents may need to stay alert when crossing arroyos through the end of the week, as more rain is expected.
“Some moisture is going to come up from the south, interacting with a disturbance that’s going to be moving south to north across eastern New Mexico,” said Matt DeMaria, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service (NWS) in Albuquerque. “Thursday night looks like the most likely time for rain in the Roswell area, probably ending by Friday.”
DeMaria said that as of Tuesday morning, the NWS was forecasting about 0.5 to 1.5 inches in Chaves County and the Roswell area.
“I would not be surprised if there were localized areas where there was over two inches,” he said.
With soils already saturated from rains over the weekend, the potential for flash flooding in the area remains, DeMaria said.
“There’s definitely going to be a threat, especially since the soils are so wet. There are probably a lot of arroyos down there that are already rushing, so it’s going to be very quick that any low water crossings get inundated,” he said.
“Most low-flow road crossing(s) on the Berrendo Creek(s), the Felix River and Zuber Draws are closed to through traffic,” stated Alex Palomino, Chaves County Public Services director, in an email Monday. “The community is asked to please watch for signs and turn around before crossing any low water features such as rivers and arroyos.”
According to Hagerman Police Chief Colter Childers, several road crossings for the Felix River, including at Lincoln, Cherokee, Vineyard, Morgan and Shoshoni roads, were closed, and State Road 2 south of Lake Arthur was closed at Walnut Creek. “These are the normal impacts that we have when it rains like this,” Childers said. “All the low-lying crossings for the Felix River will always be underwater when it’s running high, and when Walnut Creek runs, State Road 2 south of Lake Arthur will be closed down.”
The New Mexico Department of Transportation stated on its road conditions advisory website, nmroads.com, that State Highway 2 was closed Monday due to standing water on the roadway.
”Use extreme caution. Reduce speed and do not attempt to drive through high flood waters,” the department urged visitors to the site.
Several roads were closed along Berrendo Creek on the north side of Roswell Monday as well, including Country Club, Brown, North Sycamore, North Montana, North Atkinson and East Berrendo roads, according to Palomino.
“Chaves County Departments are currently assessing low-flow and flood-prone areas,” he said.
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