Three people died in flash flooding near Newcomb, New Mexico, on Sept. 16, and monsoon storms have damaged roads across the Navajo Nation.

The Navajo Police Department responded to a report of people swept away by floodwaters at about 12:30 a.m., a release from the tribe's Office of the President and Vice President said. Two adults and a minor died. President Buu Nygren urged residents to use "extreme caution" around flooded roadways and washes.

The Arizona Department of Transportation closed U.S. 160 in both directions east of Kayenta after flooding damaged the road near Laguna Wash, east of Dennehotso. The eastbound closure is at milepost 402, and the westbound closure is at the U.S. 191 junction at milepost 435, according to ADOT. The agency gave no estimated reopening time as of Sept. 18, and it separately reported on X that U.S. 163 near Kayenta was also closed because of flooding, with no reopening estimate.

Nygren signed an emergency declaration Sept. 18 directing the Navajo Department of Transportation to coordinate with the Federal Highway Administration on emergency relief assistance. Navajo Police Lt. Emmett Yazzie and Navajo Nation Department of Emergency Management liaison Tyrone Towne said crews cannot safely work on roads that remain muddy and saturated.

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque said a surge of monsoon moisture is bringing widespread heavy rain to the region through Thursday, with a chance of scattered flash flooding and some river and tributary flooding. Wednesday's precipitable water values were forecast to challenge calendar-day records, and the office called it one of the wettest days in recent memory. A flood watch is in effect for numerous New Mexico zones through Wednesday evening and may be extended into Thursday, the service said.