At least two people have died and hundreds have been rescued in Roswell, New Mexico, after extreme overnight rainfall brought severe flooding, stranding motorists and sweeping away cars.

The New Mexico National Guard said 309 people had been rescued after weekend flooding, and 38 of those people were taken to hospitals.

Authorities in New Mexico rescued hundreds of people in the Roswell area after record rainfall produced severe flooding that stranded many in high water — including a sheriff who escaped floodwaters on the roof of his vehicle — and left at least two people dead.