Flash flooding triggered evacuations across the Southwest on Sunday as the San Juan River threatened historic crests in Colorado and sinkholes opened near Sedona.
A series of Pacific storm systems deluged the region Sunday, producing flash flooding and mandatory evacuations from Arizona to Colorado. In Pagosa Springs, a mountain town of more than 2,000 in southwestern Colorado, officials warned of potentially catastrophic flooding as the San Juan River was forecast to crest at more than 20 feet late Sunday night. By sundown, the river had already reached about 14 feet — approaching levels not seen since 1911, when the San Juan crested at approximately 17.8 feet and wiped out most of what existed as the town at that time.
"This is a potentially catastrophic flood event," the Archuleta County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post.
Mandatory evacuations were ordered for residents along the San Juan, Rio Blanco, Navajo and Piedra rivers, with a designated shelter established at a local church. The highway entering town was closed to inbound traffic, and residents were advised to avoid contact with the San Juan River after sewage was discharged into it.
In Arizona, flash flooding forced evacuations in multiple communities. In Sedona, officials ordered residents near Oak Creek to leave immediately as flood waters rose and multiple people were trapped in their homes. Yavapai County and the community of Camp Verde issued similar evacuation orders for residents living near swollen rivers and creeks. Gila County ordered the total evacuation of Gisela, a small community of several hundred residents along Tonto Creek. More than 100 homes were located in the evacuation zone in Sedona, and nearly 20 of those homes had residents who needed emergency assistance to relocate.
In Tucson, members of the Fire Department's Technical Rescue Team rescued a woman from her car after it became stuck in a flooded wash. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs said state air rescue crews were assisting with rooftop evacuations and state transportation crews were helping clear debris. Outside Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Sedona, people filled plastic bags with sand to try to prevent further flooding inside.
The latest round of soaking rains started Saturday evening and was expected to saturate the region through Monday. The weather service estimated as much as 4 inches of rain could fall across the region, fueled by a series of Pacific storm systems. The service issued flood warnings and watches for nearly all of Arizona and parts of southern Utah, southwestern Colorado and western New Mexico, in addition to part of southern Nevada.
By Sunday afternoon, the drenching rains had largely subsided in the Sedona area. Officials were watching Oak Creek as water levels were expected to peak by evening. No injuries or deaths had so far been reported, officials said.
Officials in La Plata County, west of Pagosa Springs, said all public roads were closed due to the flooding. In Pagosa Springs, longtime residents expressed concern about the bridge into town washing out and trucks carrying food and fuel being unable to get in. The town had just lifted an evacuation order from flooding last week only to reimpose it Saturday night with the San Juan forecast to crest Sunday night.
