Flash Flood Warning: Lea Until 4:45 PM MDT

The warning

Flash Flood Warning issued September 22 at 1:48PM MDT until September 22 at 4:45PM MDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX. Issued by NWS Midland/Odessa TX, issued September 22, 2026 at 12:48 PM Pacific, in effect until 4:45 PM MDT. Flash-flood damage is the exact interior-flooding work restoration teams see most — water intrusion under doors and through foundation seams, saturated carpet and pad, wicking drywall, and mold risk within 24–48 hours.

This is a live snapshot as of September 22, 2026 at 12:49 PM Pacific. Conditions change fast — always verify with the National Weather Service for your specific county or ZIP code.

Lea — Flash Flood Warning

From the National Weather Service alert, verbatim:

FFWMAF

The National Weather Service in Midland/Odessa has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for…
East Central Lea County in southeastern New Mexico…

* Until 445 PM MDT.

* At 148 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 1.5 inches of rain
have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 1 inch are possible
in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin
shortly.

HAZARD…Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE…Radar indicated.

IMPACT…Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include…
Monument.

Warned area: Lea, NM

What to do

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

Stay safe

Turn around, don’t drown. Most flood deaths happen in vehicles — never drive through flooded roadways or around barricades; water only a foot deep can sweep a car away. If water enters the home, stay out of standing water where electricity may be present, keep clear of the basement until the water recedes and the power is confirmed off, and photograph everything before cleanup — documentation matters for insurance. Then call a local restoration contractor: water left sitting starts a second wave of damage within a day.

What this means for restoration teams

Translate this warning into the damage categories local contractors handle. For a flash flood warning event: interior water intrusion wherever the envelope is breached, saturated drywall and insulation, mold risk within 24–48 hours of wetting, and — where drainage is overwhelmed — sewage backup in low-lying areas.

The play: stage equipment now, pre-position drying assets, keep an on-call rotation through the expiration of the warning and beyond, and capture address + water source + affected areas on the first call. Field discipline: photo-document before mitigation, moisture-map every affected room, and keep the homeowner’s payment responsibility clear in writing before work starts.

Demand window: water-intrusion calls typically start within hours of water receding and keep coming for days as people discover damage.

FEMA & federal assistance

FEMA Helpline 1-800-621-3362 (7 a.m.–10 p.m. local, 7 days a week). Apply at DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA app, or find a recovery center at fema.gov/drc. Basic eligibility: citizenship or qualified status, identity verification, proof of occupancy or ownership, and unmet needs not covered by insurance. Apply as soon as it is safe to do so.

Looking ahead

This warning is in effect until 4:45 PM MDT. After expiration, watch for additional rounds — rivers and creeks often crest well after the rain stops, and saturated ground turns the next cell into the next warning. The next National Weather Service update for your county or ZIP will post at weather.gov; start from the alert source linked below.

Sources & how to verify

• National Weather Service alert: https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.430ef70eb97114c02ca8c4b89e7b981017fa87c8.001.1
• Verify for your county or ZIP at weather.gov or the issuing NWS office page.

This post is for informational purposes and is not an official weather warning. Always follow instructions from local authorities and the National Weather Service.