Flood Risk in El Paso, TX

Tue Sep 29, 2026, 4:00 PM MDT – 4:19 PM MDT · Northwest El Paso County (Vinton, Anthony) and El Paso

Hazard: Thunderstorm downpours in the moisture from Polo's remnants.

Flooding was reported to NWS Tuesday afternoon: South Desert Blvd was closed by flooding near Vinton, water was running over S. Desert Blvd at Anthony (TxDOT camera), and a trained spotter reported flooding at Harrison and Alabama streets in El Paso deep enough to stop traffic. Thunderstorm winds also brought down power lines and utility poles near Rushing Road and Fairbanks Drive in northeast El Paso. El Paso International Airport measured 0.72 inch of rain Monday and 0.09 inch Tuesday, with a peak gust of 43 mph Tuesday. Gauges in NWS El Paso's Wednesday-morning rain report ranged from 0.59 to 1.58 inches across the county, the most about 5 miles north of El Paso. No flooding was reported to NWS in El Paso County from Monday evening's warning or Tuesday night's warning near Fort Hancock (Local Storm Reports checked 2026-09-30).

Mon Sep 28, 2026, 12:00 PM MDT – cancelled Wed Sep 30, 1:50 AM MDT · All of El Paso County, plus Hudspeth County and southern New Mexico

Hazard: Heavy rain and flash flooding from Polo's tropical moisture, plus a Wind Advisory for gusts up to 55 mph.

Polo never reached El Paso as a tropical storm. It made landfall on Baja California Sur's west coast late Monday, just south of Las Barrancas (NHC advisory 34A; NHC later estimated it was a Category 2 hurricane at landfall), crossed the Gulf of California, and came ashore again late Tuesday morning a little east of Guaymas, Sonora, at 75 mph (advisory 36A). It weakened to a tropical storm by 2 PM MST (advisory 37) and NHC declared it dissipated over northwestern Mexico at 8 PM MST Tuesday (9 PM in El Paso), about 125 miles southwest of El Paso; that was NHC's last advisory (38). NHC said its remnants were still producing heavy rain and gusty winds over parts of the southwestern U.S. that evening. While the watch was in effect, NWS El Paso issued three flash flood warnings that included parts of El Paso County: El Paso's east side Monday evening (7:02–8:29 PM), northwest El Paso County including Canutillo, Westway and Vinton Tuesday afternoon (4:10–5:45 PM), and the far southeastern county near Fort Hancock Tuesday night (9:24 PM–12:30 AM). It also issued four flood advisories for the county (three Monday evening and night, one Tuesday 3:16–4:15 PM), a severe thunderstorm warning for northwestern El Paso County Tuesday afternoon (3:33–4:15 PM), and the Wind Advisory, which ran from 3 PM until it was cancelled at 10:40 PM Tuesday. NWS cancelled the watch at 1:50 AM Wednesday, about four hours early, saying additional flooding was not expected. The watch was first issued late Saturday, September 26.

Mon Sep 28, 2026, 7:02 PM MDT – 8:29 PM MDT (87 min) · El Paso east of downtown and south of Montana: Mission Valley, Horizon City, Clint, San Elizario, Socorro and Sparks

Hazard: Flash flooding from radar-indicated heavy rain.

The first round of Polo-related rain: the same east-side neighborhoods that flooded on September 24 were warned again Monday evening, and NWS also issued three flood advisories for urban and arroyo flooding across El Paso County Monday evening and night (6:42 PM to 1:45 AM). When NWS cancelled the warning at 8:29 PM it said the heavy rain had ended and flood waters had receded. No flooding was reported to NWS in El Paso County from this round (NWS Local Storm Reports, checked 2026-09-30).

Thu Sep 24, 2026, 3:53 PM MDT – Fri Sep 25, 5:45 AM MDT · East El Paso, Far East El Paso, Mission Valley, Socorro, Horizon City, Sparks, and the rural east county to Tornillo, Hueco Tanks and western Hudspeth County · about 9 mi from downtown

Hazard: Radar-estimated 2 to 3 inches of rain in the heaviest cells.

Downtown was outside all nine warnings; the nearest edge was about 9 miles east-southeast, and the heaviest rain fell on the city's east side and beyond. Radar showed 2 to 2.5 inches over East El Paso, Mission Valley and Socorro by 4:18 PM, and 2 to 3 inches near Hueco Tanks overnight. Flooding was confirmed: El Paso OEM reported homes flooded near Sparks and Socorro, vehicles stuck in water and a collapsed rock wall blocking a road, and water closed an I-10 ramp at Fabens (11 flooding reports to NWS). It was the third round in a week: NWS had also issued flash flood warnings for parts of the county on the nights of September 19–20 and 22–23. This was monsoon-season rain, not from Polo.