The U.S. Southwest is grappling with the aftermath of powerful downpours that have caused widespread flooding, forcing hundreds to evacuate and leaving at least one person dead. Cleanup and repair efforts are expected to take weeks.
The National Weather Service reported that isolated cloudbursts remain possible across the Four Corners region—where New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah meet—a phenomenon exacerbated by El Niño disrupting weather patterns, according to AP News.
In Pagosa Springs, Colorado, a town of about 2,000 residents, officials feared the San Juan River would exceed historic flood levels. The river reached 16.81 feet on Sunday, flooding downtown streets before beginning to recede on Monday. An entire home was swept from its foundation and crashed into a pedestrian bridge, while a section of a road bridge west of town crumbled. Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Vicki Shaffer stated that first responders were searching for stranded individuals.
More rivers have risen across the region, leading to further evacuations. In New Mexico, the San Juan River was still rising and expected to crest between Tuesday and Wednesday, cutting off the village of Chama. Residents were also evacuated along the Animas River in southwestern Colorado, where authorities were checking on those who remained in their homes.
Meteorologists noted record rainfall across Arizona, with Workman Creek in a wilderness area near Phoenix receiving 7.3 inches of rain over two days. Flagstaff recorded 5.15 inches, marking its wettest November 1 ever. Police in Flagstaff confirmed the body of a 73-year-old New York man was found Monday about 15 blocks from where he disappeared into a drainage tunnel. A second man was found dead in a drainage area, with police suspecting it was weather-related.
Swift-water rescues were also conducted in Tucson, where some areas received two to three months' worth of rain in a matter of days. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs issued a statewide emergency declaration, and the governors of New Mexico and Colorado requested federal disaster declarations to secure additional funding.
On the Navajo Nation near Montezuma Creek, Utah, residents like Ryan Benally worked to divert floodwaters from their homes. Benally, an assistant professor at Utah State University, has been coordinating the delivery of essential supplies to shelters as access routes for some remote residents have been washed out. He noted that long-time residents have never witnessed flooding of this severity.
More than 20 trillion gallons of rain have fallen on the Four Corners states and Nevada in the past two weeks, according to calculations by former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief scientist Ryan Maue. In Utah, officials announced that residents of hard-hit San Juan County would be allowed to vote electronically due to potential difficulties reaching polling places.