El Paso Flood Watch: Heavy Rain Monday to Wednesday

What happened

The National Weather Service (NWS) put out an El Paso flood watch late Saturday night, Sept. 26, 2026. A flood watch means flooding is possible. It is not a warning yet.

The watch starts Monday afternoon, Sept. 28. It runs until 6 a.m. Mountain time on Wednesday, Sept. 30. It covers Far West Texas and southern New Mexico. That includes El Paso County, Hudspeth County, Las Cruces and the Mesilla Valley, Alamogordo, the Sacramento Mountains and the Silver City area. KVIA in El Paso reported the watch covers all of the Borderland.

The rain comes from tropical moisture pulled north ahead of Hurricane Polo. The NWS expects widespread showers and some thunderstorms Monday and Tuesday. Rain may fall hard and in repeated rounds over the same places.

The ground is already soaked. Heavy rain fell last week. The NWS said wet ground makes water run off fast, so flash floods can come quickly. Creeks, streams, rivers and low spots can flood.

In its Saturday night forecast, the NWS said most places could get 1 to 2 inches of rain over 48 hours. Spots hit by storm after storm could get 3 to 4 inches. The NWS put almost the whole area at a Moderate risk of flash flooding on Tuesday. That is level 3 of 4. It also said the moisture could break seasonal records for El Paso.

Sunday should stay dry, with highs in the mid-80s. Drier weather is expected from Thursday into early October.

What it means for owner-operators

I-10 runs right through El Paso and Hudspeth counties. Both are inside the watch. So are the roads around Las Cruces and Alamogordo.

Flash floods move fast. A dip in the road can fill with water in minutes. A truck caught in a flood can mean a ruined engine, a wet load and days without work.

Road closures also cost you. A load stuck behind a closed road can mean late fees and a missed next load.

What to do next

• Plan Monday and Tuesday runs in the Borderland now. If you can move a load through on Sunday, when it is dry, think about it.
• Check the NWS forecast and road conditions before you roll each day. Watch for Flood Warnings, which mean flooding is happening or about to.
• Never drive into water on the road. Turn around. You cannot see how deep it is or if the road under it is gone.
• Park on high ground, away from creeks and low spots, if you stop overnight.
• Tell your broker or shipper early if a delivery may run late.
• Take photos of your truck and cargo before you leave. They help if you ever need to file a claim.
• Know what your policy covers for water damage. Our guide to trucking insurance coverage explained shows the main coverages in plain words.

Questions about your coverage before the rain? Call TCZ Insurance Agency at 956-526-6727.