A house with a turquoise door became a widely shared image of flooding in southern New Mexico when it was swept past a brewery that was designated a safe spot for anyone seeking higher ground.

"The main reason was the South Fork Fire last year that burned directly west of Ruidoso," Grzywacz said. "The soil wasn't able to absorb any of the rainfall, and it runs right down into Ruidoso. Normally, if you had that vegetation still there, it could absorb it. For the Ruidoso monsoon season, it was above average rain but not record rainfall."

Expansive vistas make New Mexico one the most beautiful places in the United States. Visit a place with an abundance of trees or urban spaces packed with skyscrapers, and it becomes apparent how unique it is to drive down a road or stand on a hill and see for miles.

Monsoon rains over burn scar areas from last year's fires caused devastating flash floods in New Mexico, killing three people and prompting water rescues.

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New Mexico's National Weather Service forecast offices are facing a significant drop in staffing amid a summer monsoon season that has spawned tragedies like the flooding that claimed the lives

Muggy conditions have returned this morning with patchy fog mostly out east with some lingering showers with occasional rumbles of thunder in the higher elevations to Southeast New Mexico with gusty east gap winds for some areas.

The summer rainy season in New Mexico usually brings daily alerts about the potential for flooding around the arid state