Flash Flood Warning: Colfax Until 5:00 PM MDT

The warning

Flash Flood Warning issued September 22 at 2:01PM MDT until September 22 at 5:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM. Issued by NWS Albuquerque NM, issued September 22, 2026 at 1:01 PM Pacific, in effect until 5:00 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 1:02 PM Pacific. Conditions change fast — always verify with the National Weather Service for your specific county or ZIP code.

Colfax — Flash Flood Warning

From the National Weather Service alert, verbatim:

FFWABQ

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for…
North Central Colfax County in northeastern New Mexico…

* Until 500 PM MDT.

* At 201 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated slow moving thunderstorms
producing heavy rain west of Raton near the Colorado border.
Between 1.5 and 2.25 inches of rain have fallen. Additional
rainfall amounts of 0.25 to 0.75 inches are possible in the warned
area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

HAZARD…Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing
flash flooding.

SOURCE…Radar indicated.

IMPACT…Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams,
urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include…
Vermejo Park.

Warned area: Colfax, NM

What to do

In hilly or mountainous terrain there are numerous low water
crossings which are potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not
attempt to cross flooded roads. Turn around don't drown!

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 5:00 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:2.49.0.1.840.0.3998f43920d69710e2e900c977eba388d7d71e82.001.1
• 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.