19-foot river crest threatens Colorado town with historic flooding
Storm systems in the Pacific have dumped months of rain onto the arid Southwest, forcing evacuations in Arizona and Colorado.
By Olga Menon ·
The San Juan River in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, is forecast to reach 19 feet, a level that exceeds the 17.8-foot crest recorded during the devastating 1911 flood.
Archuleta County Sheriff's Office officials described the event as potentially catastrophic. They warned that extensive damage is expected as the river crests around 11:00 p.m. on Sunday. The town, located near ski resorts, has issued mandatory evacuation orders for residents in low-lying areas along the San Juan, Rio Blanco, Navajo, and Piedra Rivers.
In Arizona, floodwaters triggered similar urgent orders. Sedona officials instructed residents near Oak Creek to leave immediately as water levels rose rapidly. Multiple people were trapped in their homes, prompting Sedona Fire District Chief Ed Mezulis to request assistance from surrounding communities. He advised residents to stay on high ground and monitor their alerts. Camp Verde also ordered evacuations for areas near the Verde River, West Clear Creek, and Wet Beaver Creek.
Meteorologist Aaron Hardin from the National Weather Service in Tucson noted the intensity of the precipitation. He stated that the region is receiving two to three months of rain within a couple of days. This deluge has caused flash floods and swift boat rescues in Tucson, located 230 miles south of Sedona. The weather service estimates up to 4 inches of rain may fall across the region, driven by a series of Pacific storm systems.
Flood watches are active for nearly all of Arizona. The warnings also extend to parts of southern Utah, southwestern Colorado, western New Mexico, and southern Nevada. This includes the Four Corners region, an area where four states meet and population density is low.
Pagosa Springs officials have designated a local church as a shelter. They instructed residents to leave immediately rather than wait, noting that emergency crews may be limited during the peak of the storm. The highway entering the town closed to inbound traffic on Sunday afternoon. In Sedona, residents are directed to Sedona Red Rock High School, with officials urging them to avoid driving across rushing water or standing near creek beds.
