Southwest Floods: Historic Rains Force Evacuations in Arizona and Colorado

Mandatory evacuation orders took effect across the U.S. Southwest on Sunday as heavy rainfall triggered flash flooding in Arizona and Colorado. Authorities in the normally arid region directed residents to leave their homes as water levels rose rapidly, disrupting transportation and trapping people in structures. The weather event brought several months of precipitation to the area in a matter of days, straining infrastructure and emergency services.

The most acute threat emerged in Pagosa Springs, a Colorado town of more than 2,000 residents known for its hot springs. Officials warned of potentially catastrophic flooding as the San Juan River was forecast to crest at 21.9 feet late Sunday night. That projection exceeds the 17.8-foot peak recorded during the destructive 1911 flood. By sundown, the river had already reached 14 feet, prompting the closure of all roads entering and leaving the town.

Pagosa Springs officials had lifted an evacuation order from a previous flooding event just one week prior. They reimposed the order on Saturday as new storm systems approached. Katie German, owner of Bruin Coffee, reported that downtown areas had been evacuated and street flooding was visible. She expressed concern over the single bridge into town washing out, which would prevent trucks from delivering food and fuel to the community.

In Arizona, the impact was equally severe. Sedona officials ordered immediate evacuations for residents near Oak Creek after floodwaters trapped individuals in their homes. Video footage from the fire department showed powerful currents inundating vehicles and rushing past houses. Michelle Grimm, a local resident, stated that she had never seen helicopters used to rescue people from neighborhoods. In nearby Yavapai County, officials ordered evacuations for those living near swollen creeks, while Gila County ordered a total evacuation of the community of Gisela.

Meteorologist Aaron Hardin with the National Weather Service in Tucson noted that the region was receiving two or three months of rain in a couple of days. The weather service issued flood warnings for nearly all of Arizona, parts of southern Utah, southwestern Colorado, and western New Mexico. Estimates indicated up to 4 inches of rain could fall across the region, driven by a series of Pacific storm systems.

In Flagstaff, authorities searched for a man who fell into fast-moving floodwaters and did not resurface. In the Pinetop-Lakeside area, residents reported sewage backing up into homes as manhole covers popped out. In Sedona, state air rescue crews assisted with rooftop evacuations, and transportation crews worked to clear debris. David McAtee, a spokesperson for Yavapai County, reported that nearly 20 homes required emergency assistance for residents to relocate. No injuries or deaths had been reported as of Sunday afternoon.