Southwest faces flash floods and mandatory evacuations
Rivers in Colorado and Arizona are rising toward historic levels, forcing residents to leave homes near waterways.
By Adriana Abebe ·
Heavy rains have triggered flash flooding and mandatory evacuations across the Southwest on Sunday.
In Pagosa Springs, Colorado, the San Juan River is forecast to crest at more than 19 feet around 11:00 p.m. Sunday. Officials in this mountain town, known for its hot springs and ski resorts, warned of potentially catastrophic flooding. The Archuleta County Sheriff's Office noted that the river reached approximately 17.8 feet during the 1911 flood, which destroyed much of the town. This new forecast exceeds that historic high by more than a foot. Emergency managers stated that extensive damage is expected as a result.
In Sedona, Arizona, officials ordered residents living near Oak Creek to leave their homes immediately. Flood waters were rising rapidly, trapping multiple people inside their houses. Authorities in nearby Camp Verde issued similar evacuation orders for residents near the Verde River, West Clear Creek, and Wet Beaver Creek. Sedona Fire District Chief Ed Mezulis said in a video posted on Facebook that emergency crews from surrounding communities were arriving to assist. He advised residents to stay at high ground, monitor their alerts, and exercise caution.
The weather service issued flood watches for nearly all of Arizona and parts of southern Utah, southwestern Colorado, western New Mexico, and southern Nevada. This coverage includes the Four Corners region where those four states meet. A series of Pacific storm systems is fueling the rainfall. The National Weather Service estimates that up to 4 inches of rain could fall across the region. The latest round of soaking rains began Saturday evening and is expected to continue through Monday, affecting areas that are already saturated.
Aaron Hardin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Tucson, described the intensity of the weather. He said the region is receiving two or three months of rain in a span of just a couple of days. These conditions have resulted in flash floods, possible river flooding, and swift boat rescues in Tucson, which is located 230 miles south of Sedona. The rapid accumulation of water is overwhelming drainage systems and riverbanks in this normally arid area.
Officials in Pagosa Springs instructed anyone in low-lying areas along the San Juan, Rio Blanco, Navajo, and Piedra Rivers to go to a designated shelter at a local church. They urged residents to leave immediately rather than waiting for instructions, as emergency crews may be limited during the worst of the storm. The highway entering the town is shut down to inbound traffic as of Sunday afternoon. In Sedona, residents in affected areas are directed to Sedona Red Rock High School. Authorities told people not to drive across roads with rushing water and to stay away from creek beds and washes. Video shared by the fire department shows powerful brown waters inundating vehicles and rushing past structures. Other social media posts show people standing on a pedestrian bridge filming the churning water below.
