New Mexico faces severe flooding and power outages after storm

Key points

• Evacuations remain in place in San Juan County as rivers continue to rise.
• More than 8,000 PNM customers in Albuquerque's East Mountains are without power.
• Schools across New Mexico are closed or delayed due to the weather and power issues.
• Strong winds have caused over 2,000 power outages in Otero County.

Background

New Mexico is experiencing the aftermath of severe weather, which has led to significant flooding and power outages. This follows a pattern of severe weather events in the region, as seen with the impacts of Hurricane Isaias in the Southeast earlier in the year.

How outlets are covering it

KOAT reports on the widespread impact of the flooding and power outages across New Mexico, highlighting the evacuations in San Juan County and the power outages in Albuquerque's East Mountains. KOB 4 and KKOB focus specifically on the power outages in the East Mountains, with KOB 4 noting the school closures and KKOB providing the cause of the outage as a main power line issue. The Taos News mentions the Rio Grande rising post-storm, but the article is largely obscured by login and registration prompts, making it difficult to extract specific details about the current situation.

Why it matters

The flooding and power outages are causing significant disruptions to daily life in New Mexico, with evacuations, school closures, and thousands of residents without electricity. The situation highlights the vulnerability of the region to severe weather and the importance of emergency response and infrastructure resilience.

What to watch

PNM estimates that power will be restored by 12:30 pm on Monday in the East Mountains. Evacuations in San Juan County will likely continue as long as the rivers remain elevated. More precipitation is expected, which could exacerbate the flooding and power outages.