Severe Flooding Devastates Pagosa Springs and the U.S. Southwest

Powerful downpours have triggered severe flooding across parts of the United States Southwest, forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate and leaving communities facing weeks of cleanup and repair. The extreme weather system, fueled by El Niño conditions and warm Pacific waters, has dropped more than 20 trillion gallons of rain across the Four Corners region and Nevada over a two-week period. Officials reported widespread damage, with one confirmed death and another suspected weather-related fatality in Arizona.

In Pagosa Springs, Colorado, a town of approximately 2,000 residents, officials feared the San Juan River would surpass historic levels that nearly devastated the community in 1911. The National Weather Service reported that the river reached 16.81 feet on Sunday, flooding downtown streets before receding on Monday. The surging waters carried away an entire home, which was lifted from its foundation and crashed into a pedestrian bridge, while a section of a road bridge west of town crumbled.

Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Vicki Shaffer stated that emergency crews conducted numerous rescues and continued searching for individuals who might still be stranded. Although the Colorado Department of Transportation reopened several closed bridges and roadways late Monday, evacuation orders remained in place. Pagosa Springs had only recently lifted an evacuation order from a previous storm before being forced to reimpose it on Saturday.

The regional storm system caused widespread destruction far beyond Colorado. In Arizona, record-breaking rainfall hit multiple areas, including Sedona, where floodwaters trapped residents in their homes and washed out part of a highway. Flagstaff recorded its wettest November 1 on record, accumulating 5.15 inches over two days. Police in Flagstaff discovered the body of a 73-year-old man who disappeared into rushing floodwaters, and authorities are investigating a second weather-related death in the city.

New Mexico also faced escalating threats as the San Juan River continued to rise, with officials warning it could crest between Tuesday and Wednesday. The village of Chama was evacuated and completely cut off by road closures. Meanwhile, residents along the Animas River in southwestern Colorado evacuated their homes as local authorities checked on those who chose to ride out the rising waters.

In southern Utah, communities along the Navajo Nation grappled with inundated landscapes and washed-out access routes. Volunteers and family members worked to build dirt berms and coordinate deliveries of bottled water, waterproof boots, and other essential supplies to shelters. Local residents noted that the persistent storms have compounded in severity beyond anything previously witnessed in the area.

In response to the widespread crisis, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs issued a statewide emergency declaration, following earlier emergency orders for Navajo and Coconino counties. Additionally, the governors of New Mexico and Colorado formally requested President Donald Trump to declare a major disaster to secure federal funding assistance for the ongoing recovery efforts.