Southwest Braces for More Flooding as Storms Unleash Rain and Tornadoes
Heavy rainfall since Wednesday has saturated soils, leading to overflowing rivers and forcing evacuations across New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah.
The southwestern United States is experiencing further flooding as residents in New Mexico begin cleaning up in the aftermath of storms that brought heavy rain and at least one tornado. Crews in evacuated neighborhoods were assessing the damage, including downed power lines and hazards left by receding waters.
A flood watch has been issued for much of the Four Corners region, where unseasonably heavy rain since Wednesday has caused rivers to surge, leading to home inundations and water rescues. Meteorologists warn that saturated soils mean even light rainfall could cause streams to overflow.
A tornado touched down in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Saturday evening, with forecasters working to confirm reports of others in the state. One resident described witnessing the tornado from her patio, expressing shock at the unprecedented weather event.
In the Farmington area of New Mexico, swollen rivers are slowly receding, but hundreds of residents remain evacuated and without power. While official figures for damaged homes and evacuations are pending, authorities have reported no known fatalities. The county sheriff's home was inundated with approximately 4 feet of water.
Officials are cautioning residents about potential hazards in the floodwaters, including chemical and raw sewage contamination, as well as possible broken gas and propane lines. The process of checking homes for safety is expected to take several days.
One family in Bloomfield, New Mexico, received evacuation orders and watched as floodwaters rose rapidly along the San Juan River, eventually submerging their property by at least 18 inches and washing away livestock. They were able to evacuate with their two young children.
In the Navajo Nation's Shiprock area, wastewater facilities and water holding ponds were damaged, leading to sewage releases into the San Juan River. New Mexico's congressional delegation has requested emergency declarations from President Donald Trump to secure federal assistance.
Colorado is also assessing the damage from flooding in Archuleta County, with initial reports suggesting catastrophic destruction. No injuries or fatalities have been reported in Colorado as of Sunday evening.
The persistent heavy rainfall in the region is attributed to tropical moisture from the Pacific, exacerbated by El Niño conditions. This follows recent deadly flooding in other areas, including the Grand Canyon.