El Paso is facing another round of heavy rain as remnants of Hurricane Polo move north from Mexico and interact with a larger weather system over the Southwest.
The National Weather Service
has warned of a heightened flood threat across the Borderland as tropical moisture spreads into the region. Several rounds of rain and thunderstorms could produce significant rainfall through Tuesday night, Sept. 29.How much rain has El Paso received?
El Paso has received about an inch of rain from the latest round of storms, with rainfall totals varying across the city and surrounding areas.
TheNational Weather Service's official gauge at El Paso International Airport recorded 0.72 inches on Monday, Sept. 28, while other locations across the area have recorded additional rainfall from the overnight
storms.
El Paso has recorded 3.40 inches of rain in September, which is 1.94 inches above its normal September rainfall through Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
Rain will continue Tuesday, with another half-inch to three-quarters of an inch possible, followed by another quarter- to half-inch Tuesday night at the airport.
How much rain has Las Cruces received?
Las Cruces has received about a quarter to a half inch of rain from the latest round of storms, with totals varying across the area, according to data from the National Weather Service.
More rain is expected Tuesday. The National Weather Service forecast for Las Cruces calls for another half-inch to three-quarters of an inch Tuesday.
How much rain is expected in El Paso this week?
The latest forecast calls for 1.5 to 2.5 inches of rain across much of the El Paso area, with isolated totals of 3 to 4 inches possible, according to the National Weather Service.
Those totals are forecasts for the upcoming storm system and are separate from the rainfall El Paso has already received during recent storms.
Heavy rain can fall quickly during thunderstorms, increasing the potential for flash flooding in areas that receive the highest rainfall totals.
When will rain hit El Paso?
Rain chances increase Tuesday, Sept. 29, as Polo's remnants move north from Mexico and moisture spreads across the Borderland.
Periods of showers and thunderstorms are expected through Tuesday night, with some storms capable of producing heavy rain.
The National Weather Service has a flood watch in effect for the region through Wednesday morning as forecasters monitor the potential for flooding.
Rainfall could be uneven across the El Paso area. Some locations may receive much less rain than the forecast totals, while storms that repeatedly move over the same area could produce substantially higher amounts.
Why is El Paso getting so much rain?
Polo is not moving directly into Texas, but its remnants are helping fuel the rain threat.
As the hurricane weakens over Mexico, its tropical moisture will spread north into the Southwest. An upper-level low moving into the region will help pull that moisture farther north and create conditions favorable for widespread rain.
The Weather Prediction Center expects Polo's remnants to move out of Mexico near El Paso before tracking north along the New Mexico-Texas border.
The system is part of a much larger weather pattern affecting the Southwest and central United States.
Could the rain cause flooding?
The heaviest thunderstorms could produce flash flooding, particularly where storms repeatedly move over the same areas.
The flood threat is also higher in places that have already received significant rain. Saturated ground has less capacity to absorb additional rainfall, allowing more water to run off into streets, washes, creeks and other low-lying areas.
Low-water crossings can become dangerous quickly during heavy rain. Drivers should never attempt to cross a flooded roadway.
El Paso weather radar
Updated information on current rain conditions is available on the National Weather Service social media sites and website.
Texas weather watches and warnings
Brandi D. Addison covers weather across the nation as the Weather Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network and contributes to Texas Connect coverage across the state. She can be reached at baddison@usatodayco.com. Follow her on Facebook here.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: How much rain is coming to El Paso? See totals and forecast
