Southwest Braces for More Flooding After Days of Heavy Rain
The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for the Four Corners region.
The Southwest United States is preparing for additional heavy showers and thunderstorms after several days of rain caused evacuations and water rescues. A flood watch has been issued by the National Weather Service for much of the Four Corners region, encompassing Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah.
Local officials are forecasting a further recession of swollen rivers that surged starting Wednesday. However, the impact of the recent rainfall continues to be felt. In San Juan County, New Mexico, Sheriff Shane Ferrari reported that his home was flooded with approximately 4 feet of water. While the situation was described as stable on Sunday, residents are engaged in cleanup and damage assessment.
San Juan County spokesperson Devin Neeley indicated that official numbers for home damage and evacuations were not yet available, but he was unaware of any fatalities. Floodwaters are receding, leaving behind mud and silt that may be contaminated with sewage due to failures at waste plants. Multiple areas are experiencing power outages, and it is expected to take several days for electricity to be restored.
"It's a pretty active disaster zone," Neeley stated. "We're not on the downswing by any means."
This latest flooding follows two months of intermittent heavy rainfall attributed to tropical moisture from the Pacific. The region has recently experienced other deadly flooding incidents, including in the Grand Canyon and parts of New Mexico, after enduring months of drought.