River crest of 19 feet forces evacuations in Colorado and Arizona
Heavy rains have saturated the Southwest, prompting mandatory orders for residents to leave low-lying areas in Sedona and Pagosa Springs.
By Hassan Okoye ·
The Southwest United States faces another round of severe weather as fall rains intensify, leading to emergency actions across state lines. Mandatory evacuation orders were issued on Sunday in parts of Arizona and Colorado following rapid water rises.
In Pagosa Springs, Colorado, authorities warned of potentially catastrophic conditions. The San Juan River is forecast to crest at more than 19 feet, or 5.8 meters, around 11:00 p.m. Sunday. The Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office noted that the river reached 17.8 feet during the 1911 flood, which destroyed much of the town. Officials expect extensive damage from this event and urged residents in low-lying areas along the San Juan, Rio Blanco, Navajo, and Piedra Rivers to move to a designated shelter at a local church.
Simultaneously, officials in Sedona, Arizona, ordered residents near Oak Creek to leave immediately. Flood waters were rising quickly, trapping multiple people in their homes. Sedona Fire District Chief Ed Mezulis stated that emergency crews from surrounding communities were arriving to assist local fire and police departments responding to the trapped residents. He advised people to stay on high ground and monitor alerts while avoiding creek beds and washes.
The National Weather Service attributes the flooding to a series of Pacific storm systems that began delivering rain on Saturday evening. The agency estimates up to 4 inches, or 10 centimeters, of precipitation will fall across the region through Monday. Flood watches are active for nearly all of Arizona, parts of southern Utah, southwestern Colorado, western New Mexico, and southern Nevada. This area includes the Four Corners region, where four states meet.
Pagosa Springs officials instructed residents to leave without delay, warning that emergency response capacity would be limited during the peak of the storm. The highway entering the town will close to inbound traffic on Sunday afternoon. In Sedona, residents in affected zones are directed to Sedona Red Rock High School. Local authorities cautioned against driving through rushing water on roads.
