What happened
A flash flood emergency has been declared in New Mexico due to the potential failure of the McLeod Dam. The dam, located in northwestern Doña Ana County, is at risk of imminent failure, prompting officials to issue a warning for people in the surrounding areas to seek higher ground immediately.
The emergency advisory is in effect until 4:45 pm local time and affects areas between Garfield and Salem, including portions of Highways 187 and 390, as well as along Garfield Drain, Garfield Canal, and other drainage and irrigation ditches.
The National Weather Service has warned that this is a particularly dangerous situation and has advised people in low-lying areas below the McLeod Dam to move to higher ground immediately. The flash flood emergency comes after Hurricane Polo brought heavy rains and strong winds to the region, with gusts of up to 60 mph reported on Tuesday.