By — Philip Marcelo, Associated Press Philip Marcelo, Associated Press By — Michael Casey, Associated Press Michael Casey, Associated Press By — Christopher Weber, Associated Press Christopher Weber, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/flash-flooding-triggers-evacuations-in-southwest-and-a-dire-warning-for-a-colorado-spa-town Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Flash flooding triggers evacuations in Southwest and a dire warning for a Colorado spa town Nation Nov 2, 2026 4:32 PM EST Heavy rainfall produced flash flooding and mandatory evacuations in a swath of the Southwest on Sunday, including in a Colorado tourist town bracing for its main river to rise to historic levels, as weary residents in the normally arid region deal with another massive drenching. Officials in Pagosa Springs, a town of more than 2,000 in the Rockies located near ski resorts and known for its hot springs, warned of potentially "catastrophic flooding" as the San Juan River was forecast to crest at more than 20 feet (6.1 meters) late Sunday night. "To put the forecast into perspective, during the devastating 1911 flood that wiped out most of what…
Flash flooding triggers evacuations in Southwest and a dire warning for a Colorado spa town
In short
Consecutive Pacific storm fronts delivered up to three months' worth of precipitation over several days, leaving ground saturated and drainage systems overwhelmed. The deluge prompted widespread road closures, water rescues, and a search for a missing man in Flagstaff who disappeared in swift currents. In Pagosa Springs, the San Juan River climbed to roughly 14 feet by Sunday evening and threatened to exceed a record high set in 1911. Weather authorities expect storm systems could deposit up to 4 inches of rain before tapering off.
Key points
- National Weather Service alerts expanded to cover nearly all of Arizona alongside parts o…: National Weather Service alerts expanded to cover nearly all of Arizona alongside parts of four neighboring states.
- The severe regional deluge dumped up to three months of rainfall in just a matter of days.: The severe regional deluge dumped up to three months of rainfall in just a matter of days.
- Swollen waterways prompted mandatory evacuation orders across central Arizona, northern N…: Swollen waterways prompted mandatory evacuation orders across central Arizona, northern New Mexico, and southwestern Colorado.