Daniel Wolfram
New Mexico and Arizona, two usually dry states close to deserts, were hit with devastating floods last night that claimed the lives of three people.
Emergency crews responded to a midnight call for three missing people after flash floods swept through a remote region in New Mexico.
The midnight storms gave the region a month’s worth of rain in just one night.
Officers responded around 12:30 a.m. to reports of three people swept away near Newcomb, New Mexico.
Tragic midnight rescue
Navajo Police officers found two adults and one minor at the scene. They were pronounced dead after being swept away. Out of respect for the families involved, no further information is available at the time of publishing.
“There are no words that can ease the pain of losing a loved one so suddenly, and our hearts are especially heavy knowing that three lives were lost,” Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said in a statement on social media.
“To the family, relatives, and loved ones who are grieving today, we offer our deepest condolences. We pray that you are surrounded by strength, comfort, and the love of your family and community in the difficult days ahead.”
The downpour started late Tuesday afternoon. Most of the rain fell within a single intense hour, leaving up to an inch of water on ground that rarely sees moisture, according to CNN.
Swamped in Arizona
By Wednesday, the storm traveled from New Mexico to Arizona and flooded several suburbs. Main roads quickly turned into riverbeds, trapping drivers inside their vehicles.
The heaviest rainfall hit the town of Cave Creek, north of Phoenix. Over three inches of rain fell in just three hours. That single storm dropped triple the entire average rainfall for September.
A tropical disturbance moving from the Gulf of California pulled extra moisture into the regular monsoon system, pushing global warming dynamics into sharp focus. Drier conditions will return in time for the weekend as the storm system fades.
