Rio Ruidoso River water level rises 20 feet in just 30 minutes amid flash floods in New Mexico| Videos

Rio Ruidoso River at Hollywood, just east of Ruidoso, New Mexico, rose 20 feet in just 30 minutes around 4 p.m. Tuesday. A flash flood emergency is in effect.

Updated on: Jul 9, 2025, 04:32:12 IST

By Vaishnavi Vaidyanathan

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The Rio Ruidoso River at Hollywood, just east of Ruidoso, New Mexico, rose 20 feet in just 30 minutes around 4 p.m. Tuesday, according to a NOAA graph. A flash flood emergency is currently in effect for the area. Videos show severe flooding across multiple areas, including one clip capturing a structure being swept away by the Rio Ruidoso River. Another video shows a house floating down the river behind Downshift Brewing in Village Ruidoso.

Flash flood emergency in Ruidoso, New Mexico. (Representational image/ Getty Images via AFP and Screenshot/ Water.Noaa.Gov)

Also Read: Ruidoso, New Mexico flooding: Evacuation map and updates amid flash flood emergency| Videos

Flash Flood Emergency For Ruidoso, NM

Flash Flood Warning is in effect until 5:15 p.m. MDT for the South Fork burn scar area in south-central Lincoln County, New Mexico. Residents have been asked to “seek higher ground now.” Immediate evacuation has been ordered for areas in and around the South Fork Burn Scar.

As per the National Weather Service (NWS) alert, “At 3:18 p.m. MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain over the South Fork Burn Scar. Between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 0.5 inches are possible in the warned area. Widespread flash flooding has been reported in Ruidoso. Do NOT attempt to drive through the flood waters. They will carry away your vehicle!”

The following locations are likely to experience flash flooding -

Ruidoso

Ruidoso Downs

Alto

Glencoe

Hollywood

The alert states, “Excessive rainfall over the burn scar will impact Upper Canyon, Brady Canyon, and Perk Canyon as well as the Cedar Creek, Eagle Creek and Rio Ruidoso drainages. Impacts will include but are not limited to all nearby reservoirs, bridges, culverts and roadways. Impacts to areas along the Rio Ruidoso may extend downstream of Ruidoso Downs. The debris flow can consist of rock, mud, vegetation and other loose materials.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vaishnavi Vaidyanathan
Vaishnavi Vaidyanathan leads the US Desk at Hindustan Times, where she writes, strategises coverage, and ensures quality across all beats. With eight years of experience covering US news for leading publications, she has reported extensively on politics, entertainment, and sports. Vaishnavi holds a graduate degree in English, Journalism, and Psychology, and completed her PG Diploma in Broadcast Journalism from the Manorama School of Communication, where she was awarded the prestigious Mammen Mappillai Award for Best Outgoing Student. She began her career at the International Business Times (US Edition), covering US breaking news, politics, and entertainment. She later joined Opoyi, reporting across all beats, including US sports and trending stories. Prior to Hindustan Times, she served as World Lead at Times Now News, covering comprehensive world news and events. Vaishnavi has expertise in politics, entertainment, and breaking news, and enjoys tackling stories across a wide range of topics. Beyond the newsroom, she is an avid traveller, a foodie who loves exploring new restaurants, and a pop culture enthusiast who enjoys watching latest shows and films. She also enjoys engaging in debates and discussions on Reddit.Read More

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