Pacific storm to bring heavy rain to New Mexico and southwest Colorado

A strong Pacific storm system, drawing in moisture that includes remnants or influence from Tropical Storm Trudy, is expected to bring widespread rain and thunderstorms to New Mexico and southwest Colorado Wednesday through Friday, with Thursday likely the wettest day. Forecasters warn of localized flash flooding, particularly in southwest Colorado and across western and northern New Mexico, where already-wet ground and heavy downpours could raise risks; some mountain areas in southwest Colorado may receive several inches of rain. Rain is expected to spread east toward the Rio Grande Valley, while high snow levels mean most precipitation will fall as rain, even at higher elevations. The exact timing and location of the heaviest rainfall remain uncertain, and residents are advised to watch updated forecasts and use caution near flood-prone roads and washes. The persistent moisture is also renewing attention to the possibility of a wetter winter and improved snowpack amid drought, though meteorologists remain cautious about what the developing El Niño pattern will mean for Southwest snowfall.