The National Weather Service office in Albuquerque has issued a Flash Flood Warning for Lincoln, New Mexico, effective this evening, September 24, from 5:05 PM MDT until 7:30 PM MDT. This is a rapidly developing, dangerous situation: heavy rainfall in the area is producing or is expected to produce flash flooding in and around Lincoln, a small community in Lincoln County in south-central New Mexico.
Residents in the warning area may notice quickly rising water in normally dry arroyos and creeks, water flowing over low-water crossings and rural roads, and ponding in low-lying areas. In New Mexico’s terrain, flash floods can arrive with little warning, and water can rise fast even downstream of the heaviest rain. Burn-scar areas from past wildfires in the region are especially prone to fast runoff and debris flows.
Anyone in or near Lincoln should take this seriously for the next couple of hours:
What to do right now
Move to higher ground if you are in a low-lying area, near a stream, or in an arroyo. Never drive or walk through floodwater — as little as six inches of moving water can knock a person down, and about a foot can carry away a vehicle. Turn around, don’t drown. Avoid low-water crossings on local roads, and do not camp or park along waterways. Keep a phone charged and monitor NOAA Weather Radio or local alerts in case the warning is extended or upgraded.
The warning is currently set to expire at 7:30 PM MDT, but it could be extended if heavy rain continues. Conditions can change quickly, so stay alert through the evening even after the rain appears to let up — runoff can keep streams and arroyos flowing dangerously for a while afterward.
Data and warning details come from the National Weather Service (NWS) Albuquerque office and NOAA.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do right now if I'm in Lincoln?
Move to higher ground away from arroyos, creeks, and low-lying areas, and stay off flooded roads. Do not attempt to drive or walk through any moving water.
How long will this last?
The warning runs until 7:30 PM MDT tonight, September 24, but NWS Albuquerque may extend it if heavy rain continues. Keep monitoring local alerts through the evening.
Is it safe to drive through the area?
No — avoid low-water crossings and any road covered by water. Most flash flood deaths happen in vehicles, and road beds can be washed out beneath the water's surface.
Could the flooding reach areas outside Lincoln?
Yes — runoff can travel downstream through arroyos and drainages beyond the immediate warning area, so communities and roads downstream of heavy rain should also stay alert tonight.
Keep tracking this:
Source: National Weather Service (NWS)
Related Reading
- Emergency Communication: Staying Connected When Towers Go Down
- Earthquake Survival: Precautions, Kit & Early Warning in 2026
- Essential Guide to Preparing for a Nuclear War
Sky & Solar Conditions at the Time
Moon: Full Moon (97% illuminated), in Pisces.
Notable planetary angles: Moon trine Venus (124°), Sun sextile Mars (64°), Mercury sextile Jupiter (64°).
Concurrent space weather: planetary Kp index 2.0; strongest recent solar flare: nothing notable.
This is a factual snapshot, not a claim of cause and effect – researchers are divided on whether lunar, planetary or solar factors influence seismic or weather activity. It’s included so readers can track the pattern for themselves over time.
