Severe flooding swept across parts of the southwestern United States on Sunday, prompting mandatory evacuations in Arizona and Colorado as heavy rainfall overwhelmed roads, rivers and residential areas.
Communities across the normally dry region faced flash floods, rising waterways and emergency rescue operations as successive Pacific storm systems brought torrential rain.
Weather officials warned that some areas could experience potentially catastrophic flooding.
In Pagosa Springs, a town of more than 2,000 residents in southwestern Colorado, authorities prepared for the San Juan River to reach levels not recorded in more than a century.
The river was forecast to crest at approximately 21.9 feet late Sunday night.
Town officials warned residents of potentially catastrophic conditions, while the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office compared the forecast with the devastating 1911 flood, when the river reached approximately 17.8 feet and destroyed much of the settlement that existed at the time.
Missing Man Feared Swept Away in Flagstaff
Flooding in Flagstaff, Arizona, raised further concerns on Sunday evening after a man reportedly fell into fast-moving water and disappeared.
Police and firefighters were dispatched to the area near South Malpais Lane and West Clay Avenue shortly before 6pm following reports that the man had lost his footing near the rushing water, fallen in and failed to resurface.
The Flagstaff Police Department and Flagstaff Fire Department deployed all available resources to search for him.
Authorities also urged members of the public to stay away from the area while rescue operations continued.
Several roads and bridges were closed across the city as floodwaters continued to rise, with emergency personnel working to respond to the worsening conditions.
Evacuation Orders Issued Across Arizona Communities
In Sedona, authorities ordered people living near Oak Creek to evacuate immediately as water levels increased and multiple residents became trapped inside their homes.
Similar evacuation directives were issued in parts of Yavapai County and Camp Verde, where swollen rivers and creeks threatened nearby communities.
Further southeast, officials in Gila County ordered the complete evacuation of Gisela, a small community of several hundred people situated along Tonto Creek.
Residents in low-lying areas around the San Juan, Rio Blanco, Navajo and Piedra rivers in Colorado were also instructed to move to a designated shelter at a local church.
Authorities warned people not to delay their departure, explaining that emergency crews could have limited capacity to assist residents once conditions deteriorated further.
The highway leading into Pagosa Springs was closed to incoming traffic. Residents were also advised to avoid the San Juan River after sewage was discharged into the waterway.
Tucson Records Multiple Water Rescues
Heavy rainfall extended to Tucson, approximately 230 miles south of Sedona, where flash flooding left motorists stranded and emergency crews carried out numerous water rescues.
Aaron Hardin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Tucson, said the region was receiving two or three months’ worth of rainfall within a few days.
By 3pm Sunday, emergency personnel had completed at least 16 river rescues across Pima County as floodwaters overwhelmed roads and trapped drivers.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Office said the number of road closures had become so extensive that authorities could not provide a complete list.
Residents were warned against attempting to drive through flooded streets, with officials repeating the safety message: “Turn Around, Don’t Drown!”
Tucson Fire Department personnel also rescued people from vehicles caught in flooded washes.
The department reported responding to seven of the 12 water rescues recorded across the greater Tucson area.
Pagosa Springs Residents Fear Historic River Flooding
The situation in Pagosa Springs remained particularly concerning as the San Juan River approached levels higher than those recorded during the 1911 disaster.
The Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office said the river was expected to reach 21.9 feet on Sunday night, prompting authorities to reinstate evacuation measures that had been lifted only the previous week.
Katie German, owner and chef of Bruin Coffee in Pagosa Springs, said the town centre had been evacuated and several streets were already experiencing flooding.
She expressed concern that the only bridge into the town could be washed away, potentially preventing delivery trucks carrying essential supplies, including food and fuel, from reaching the community.
German said she was worried about her business, employees and other residents, describing Pagosa Springs as a closely connected community where people supported one another.
Sedona Residents Watch Oak Creek Rise
In Sedona, longtime resident Michelle Grimm described her concerns after seeing Oak Creek rise dangerously close to the underside of a pedestrian bridge near the town centre.
Grimm said she noticed the water level early Sunday morning and immediately feared the community was facing serious flooding.
She also described witnessing rescue operations involving helicopters and residential neighbourhoods submerged by water, saying she had never seen flooding of that scale in the area.
Footage released by the Sedona Fire Department showed floodwaters sweeping through vehicles and rushing past homes and other buildings.
The department called in additional personnel to assist with the growing number of rescue operations.
Yavapai County spokesperson David McAtee said officials were monitoring Oak Creek as water levels were expected to reach their highest point by Sunday evening.
At least 100 homes were situated within the evacuation zone, with residents from nearly 20 properties requiring emergency assistance to relocate.
McAtee said no injuries or fatalities had been reported at the time.
Highways Closed as Flooding Spreads Across the Southwest
Heavy rainfall forced the closure of several highways across Arizona, according to the state’s Department of Transportation.
La Plata County, west of Pagosa Springs in Colorado, also announced that all public roads had been closed because of flooding.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs said state air rescue teams were assisting with evacuations from rooftops, while transportation crews were working to remove debris from affected areas.
Flood warnings and watches covered almost the entire state of Arizona, alongside parts of southern Utah, southwestern Colorado, western New Mexico and southern Nevada.
The affected areas included the Four Corners region, where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah meet.
The National Weather Service estimated that some parts of the region could receive up to four inches of rain as multiple Pacific storm systems moved across the Southwest.
In southern Utah, forecasters warned that previous rainfall had already saturated the ground, increasing the likelihood of excessive runoff in Washington County and around Zion and Capitol Reef National Parks.
Officials cautioned that flood-prone locations could become inundated, while backcountry roads could become impassable.
Forecasters Warn of More Heavy Rainfall
The National Weather Service warned that some of Arizona’s hardest-hit locations could receive between three and five inches of additional rainfall, particularly around the Mogollon Rim north and east of Phoenix.
Forecasters said saturated ground could accelerate the movement of floodwaters through canyons, normally dry washes and areas previously affected by wildfires.
Southern Utah and western New Mexico were also forecast to receive up to three inches of rain before the storm system moved east towards the Great Plains on Monday.
The latest round of rainfall began on Saturday evening and was expected to continue affecting the region through Monday.
Brian Hurley, a senior meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Maryland, said the weather system was carrying substantial moisture as it moved eastward.
Flooding Disrupts Halloween Weekend Events
The severe weather also forced the cancellation and postponement of several events scheduled across Arizona during Halloween weekend.
The annual Dia de los Muertos festival at St. Mary’s Basilica in downtown Phoenix was postponed until November 8.
The final scheduled day of the Arizona State Fair and Bug Fest at Arizona Boardwalk were also cancelled.
Jerome Doris, parish manager at St. Mary’s Basilica, said organisers had spent several days preparing for the festival, which was expected to feature vendors and approximately 10 food trucks in the surrounding streets.
Although the event could not proceed as planned, a smaller Dia de los Muertos altar would remain inside the church throughout the week, allowing worshippers to remember deceased loved ones.
Colorado Issues Further Evacuation Orders
Flooding also prompted additional emergency measures in another part of Colorado on Sunday.
Authorities ordered evacuations in sections of Conejos County as rapidly rising water levels threatened residential areas.
Colorado’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management warned residents that they might not be able to return to their homes for several days.
Officials instructed those affected to leave immediately and move to higher ground as emergency teams continued responding to the flooding.
