Key facts
- Alert
- Flash Flood Warning (severe)
- Issued by
- National Weather Service, Albuquerque NM
- Areas
- Chaves, NM; Lincoln, NM
- In effect
- until 7:15 PM MDT, Oct 27, 2026
What the National Weather Service says
“Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.”
NWS Albuquerque NM, Flash Flood Warning, 7:08 PM MDT Oct 27, 2026 · official alert
“Between 1 and 3 inches of rain have fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.”
NWS Albuquerque NM, Flash Flood Warning, 7:08 PM MDT Oct 27, 2026 · official alert
“Both localized and distant heavy rainfall will create sudden and dangerous flows in arroyos and over low water crossings.”
NWS Albuquerque NM, Flash Flood Warning, 7:08 PM MDT Oct 27, 2026 · official alert
What to do
Do not drive into flooded roads. Turn around and find another route. The National Weather Service says most flood deaths occur in vehicles, and just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down.
Stay away from arroyos, streams, normally dry rivers and low water crossings. Water in arroyos can travel many miles and take hours to reach you from rain upstream, so a clear sky overhead does not mean a channel is safe.
Move to higher ground if you are in a low-lying or poor-drainage area. Never drive around barricades. Check for updates from the National Weather Service until the warning ends at 7:15 PM MDT.
Context
FEMA flood-insurance records show 132 claims in Chaves County and 269 in Lincoln County between 1978 and 2025. These counts cover only insured properties, so they understate total flood damage.
Both counties have had federal disaster declarations that included flooding. Chaves County had one in November 2024, and Lincoln County had one in July 2025.
Updates
- The National Weather Service updated the flash flood warning; it remains in effect until 7:15 PM MDT.
- The National Weather Service updated the flash flood warning; it remains in effect until 7:15 PM MDT.
- NWS Albuquerque NM issued the flash flood warning until 7:15 PM MDT.
History here
Chaves County: 132 flood insurance claims in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 1978, most recent 2025.
Chaves County: recent federal disaster declarations
Lincoln County: 269 flood insurance claims in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 1978, most recent 2025.
Lincoln County: recent federal disaster declarations
- DR-4886 (2025): severe storms, flooding, and landslides
- DR-4795 (2024): south fork fire, salt fire, and flooding
- DR-4652 (2022): wildfires, straight-line winds, flooding, mudflows, and debris flows
- DR-4199 (2014): severe storms and flooding
- DR-4197 (2014): severe storms and flooding
Get these alerts on your iPhone
Herebeat is an iPhone app that shows official alerts like these (National Weather Service warnings, earthquakes, wildfires, air quality and more) for the places you save, each with its source and issue time. Download Herebeat on the App Store.
Questions
- Is there a flash flood warning in Chaves County, New Mexico?
- Yes. The National Weather Service in Albuquerque issued a Flash Flood Warning at 4:20 PM MDT for western Chaves County. It lasts until 7:15 PM MDT on October 27.
- Which areas are covered by the Lincoln County flash flood warning?
- The warning covers southeastern Lincoln County and western Chaves County. It mainly affects rural areas of both counties.
- How much rain has fallen in the warned area?
- Radar indicated thunderstorms with heavy rain, and between 1 and 3 inches have fallen. The National Weather Service says flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.
Sources
- NWS Albuquerque NM: Flash Flood Warning, Oct 27, 2026 weather.gov
- FEMA OpenFEMA: NFIP claims and disaster declarations fema.gov
How this page is made. The Herebeat Hazard Desk builds event pages from official U.S. government data (National Weather Service, USGS, FEMA). The text is written with AI from that data; every number and quote is checked against the official source automatically before publishing, and the page is updated when the agency updates the event. The official source is always the reference. Spotted a mistake? info@herebeat.app. About the Hazard Desk.