N.M. Braces for Heavy Rain, Flooding

Sept. 17--LAS CRUCES -- Southern New Mexico is bracing for heavy rain -- as much as 5 inches -- as the remnants of what was once Hurricane Odile are expected to sweep over the region today and Thursday, prompting flash flood warnings.

Although parched regions may welcome rain clouds, some areas could see the equivalent of several months' precipitation over the course of a few days, threatening low-lying areas with dangerous floods, washed-out roads and mudslides in mountainous regions.

The up to 5 inches of rain expected to fall across the state's southwest and south will likely push some areas well above average rainfall for the monsoon season. The National Weather Service named the Gila River region and Sacramento Mountains as top flood concerns, but also said low-lying areas in Otero and Dona Ana counties could see flooding as well.

Albuquerque is forecast to see a little more than an inch of rain from the storm.

Odile "has some staying power," according to National Weather Service meteorologist John Fausett, who said flash flood warnings could be extended through Friday. He did not expect the waning storm to bring high winds with it.

"We don't want you to think that just because we had some heavy rain overnight it's over with," he said during a Tuesday call with emergency management officials and news media. "We probably have two or three days left."

Hurricane Odile slammed into Mexico's Los Cabos resort town on the Baja California peninsula as a Category 3 storm late Sunday and Monday, stranding tourists and knocking out power and water. Images in Mexican media showed the torn-apart walls of a flooded airport terminal and widespread damage to homes.

The much-diminished tropical storm is expected to cross into New Mexico on Thursday, preceded by bands of rain that began overnight Tuesday across the southern part of the state.

"We're expecting up to five inches" in Grant County, said Grant County Sheriff Raul Villanueva, adding that although no flood events had been reported as of late Tuesday, the department is asking residents to prepare for the storm. "You won't believe it until it happens."

Villanueva said county emergency management officials were closely watching for mudslides and possible flooding below the burn scar of last year's Silver Fire in the Gila National Forest.

Las Cruces fire departments handed out free sandbags to homeowners on Tuesday but city and county officials said there were no other special precautions planned.

Dave DuBois, state climatologist and environmental science professor at New Mexico State University, said that with the coming storm, Las Cruces could see more than 3 inches of rain, or nearly triple what it usually receives in September. Average annual rainfall in Las Cruces is just under 10 inches.

"It's going to be a really big month," he said.

New Mexico has weathered the remnants of tropical storm systems more often than might be expected in the desert Southwest: The Weather Service reports that since 1950 the remains of some 57 named tropical storm systems have dumped rain on the state.

Nipping at the heels of Odile is Tropical Storm Polo, which is making its way north off Mexico's Pacific coast. The Weather Service shows the storm hugging the Mexican coast over the next few days.

A year ago this month, record-breaking rainfall prompted Gov. Susana Martinez to declare a state of emergency for the entire state. Hundreds of people had to be evacuated in Eddy, Sierra and San Miguel counties. In La Union, a small town in southern Dona Ana County, heavy rains opened sinkholes, washed out roads and flooded homes.

Copyright 2014 - Albuquerque Journal, N.M.