Trucking News · New Mexico · October 26, 2026

New Mexico Flooding Shut I-40 Near Cubero, Leaving Truckers' Semis in High Water

A green semi truck pulling a white trailer on a wet desert interstate after rain, with red rock cliffs and clouds behind — Illustration for this story. Not a photo of a specific location.

Floodwater closed Interstate 40 in both directions near Cubero, New Mexico, on Saturday evening, Oct. 24, and viewer images showed semis stuck on the road with water above their wheels, KOB 4 reported. Truckers running between Grants and Albuquerque had no detour available at the time.

The interstate was reported reopened on Sunday, but a flood warning for the area runs into Monday afternoon, and forecasters said numerous roads were still closed.

What happened Saturday night

According to NMRoads, as reported by KOB, both directions of I-40 were closed between mile markers 102 and 108, near Exit 104, with no detour available and no timeline for reopening. Traffic maps showed the old Route 66 path closed as well, so it could not be used as a way around.

New Mexico State Police closed the interstate at about 8 p.m. Saturday, CDLWire reported.

The water came after days of heavy rain. Law enforcement reported up to 3.5 inches of rain to the National Weather Service, and radar estimates ran from 3 to 8 inches over three days, according to CDLWire, citing the Weather Service.

Is I-40 open near Cubero?

I-40 was reported reopened in both directions on Sunday, Oct. 25, according to CDLWire, citing the rail industry publication Trains, but Big Rig Daily could not confirm the reopening with the New Mexico Department of Transportation. Truck drivers headed that way should check NMRoads for current conditions before rolling.

Flood warnings into the week

The National Weather Service office in Albuquerque issued a flood warning for northwestern Valencia and northeastern Cibola counties, in effect until 3:30 p.m. Mountain time Monday, Oct. 26, according to the Weather Service alert text. The alert said the Rio San Jose was "still out of banks in large stretches" and that "numerous roads remain closed due to flooding."

Places listed in the warning included Grants, Laguna Pueblo, New Laguna, Cubero, Mesita, San Fidel, Skyline-Ganipa, McCartys, Paraje and Seama.

A second warning covers the Rio Puerco near Bernardo in Socorro County, through Thursday morning. Forecasters said the river was expected to crest at about 24.2 feet just after midnight Sunday night, that water levels on the lower Rio Puerco had not been this high since July 1944, and that further rises would affect traffic on Interstate 25.

Rail lines were hit too

The flooding also reached the railroad that shares the valley. BNSF's Southern Transcon main line flooded between Marmon and Laguna, according to CDLWire, citing Trains. That stretch averages 59 freight trains a day, based on RailState data cited by Trains. Amtrak canceled Southwest Chief trains, CDLWire reported.

Before you head through

Check NMRoads for closures before reaching the Grants to Albuquerque stretch.
Do not use flooded frontage roads or county roads as shortcuts. The Weather Service warning tells travelers not to drive on flooded roads, CDLWire reported.
If you need to wait out a closure, find parking with the New Mexico truck stop and weigh station map.
Plan extra time for weather. The hours of service break calculator can help map out a long day.