San Juan River to crest at 21.9 feet in Colorado town
Officials in Pagosa Springs issued new evacuation orders as the river is forecast to rise above the 1911 record level of 17.8 feet.
By Talia Bennett ·
Archuleta County authorities in Colorado ordered residents to evacuate Pagosa Springs on Sunday as the San Juan River approached historic high levels. The town, located in the Rocky Mountains, is bracing for a crest of 21.9 feet late Sunday night. This forecast exceeds the 17.8 feet recorded during the 1911 flood that destroyed much of the original settlement.
The Archuleta County Sheriff's Office described the situation as a potentially catastrophic flood event in a social media post. Vicky Schaffer, a county spokesperson, stated that the river had reached approximately 14 feet by sundown. Roads leading into and out of the town were closed to traffic. Officials urged residents not yet under mandatory evacuation orders to remain indoors and stay away from the water.
Town officials had lifted an evacuation order following a previous flooding event last week. They reimposed the order on Saturday after new storm systems developed. Katie German, who owns Bruin Coffee in downtown Pagosa Springs, reported that the business district was evacuated and streets were flooded. German expressed concern that the single bridge connecting the town might wash out, cutting off supply trucks carrying food and fuel.
Heavy rainfall affected a wide area of the Southwest, triggering flash floods and mandatory evacuations in parts of New Mexico and Arizona. In Sedona, Arizona, officials ordered residents near Oak Creek to leave immediately after floodwaters trapped people in their homes. The Sedona fire department shared video of powerful brown water rushing under a pedestrian bridge and inundating vehicles.
Longtime Sedona resident Michelle Grimm said she sheltered in place after seeing the water rise near a bridge in the town center. She noted that she had never seen helicopters used to rescue people from neighborhoods before. By Sunday afternoon, the heaviest rains in the Sedona area had subsided, though cleanup efforts continued.
In other parts of Arizona, Yavapai County and the community of Camp Verde issued evacuation orders for areas near swollen creeks. Gila County ordered a total evacuation of Gisela, a small community along Tonto Creek. In Tucson, authorities conducted swift boat rescues after flash floods and river flooding occurred. Aaron Hardin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said the region received two or three months of rain in just a few days.
Flagstaff, Arizona, experienced near nonstop rain on Sunday, which flooded roads and overwhelmed storm drains. Police reported that a man fell into fast-moving water and was not seen resurfacing. In the Pinetop-Lakeside area, residents reported sewage backing up into homes as manhole covers popped up due to the pressure. The weather service issued flood warnings for nearly all of Arizona, parts of southern Utah, southwestern Colorado, and western New Mexico.
State Governor Katie Hobbs said air rescue crews were assisting with rooftop evacuations in Arizona. Transportation crews worked to clear debris from highways. David McAtee, a spokesperson for Yavapai County, reported that no injuries or deaths had been confirmed. He noted that nearly 20 homes required emergency assistance for residents to relocate.
