DURANGO, Colo. — Heavy rainfall over the weekend triggered widespread flooding, road closures and evacuations across Southwest Colorado, with La Plata and Archuleta counties bearing the brunt of the storm.
La Plata County Sheriff Sean Smith temporarily closed all county roads by 2 p.m. Sunday as floodwaters exceeded 12 inches in depth in many areas. The sheriff's office was responding to 23 separate flooding incidents across the county, with deputies assisting residents trapped in vehicles and at mobile home parks. Floodwaters prompted the closure of multiple highway segments, including U.S. Highway 160 from Durango to Lightner Creek, U.S. Highway 160 between Durango and Bayfield, and Wolf Creek Pass on U.S. Highway 160 all the way to South Fork.
Durango School District and Fort Lewis College canceled all classes for Monday. The La Plata Electric Association reported about 245 customers without power in the Junction Creek area and 642 customers without power in the Helen's Corner and Lemon Reservoir area.
Evacuation orders were issued for multiple mobile home parks, including Junction Creek Mobile Home Park northwest of Durango, Meadowbrook Mobile Home Park in Ignacio, Pine Winds Mobile Home Park in Hesperus, Durango Regency Mobile Home Park and North Valley Mobile Home Park in the Animas Valley. Shelters were established at the La Plata County Fairgrounds, Ignacio High School, Bayfield High School and Vallecito Baptist Church.
In Archuleta County, evacuation orders were issued for homes along the river banks of the San Juan, Rio Blanco, Navajo and Piedra Rivers. The San Juan River at Pagosa Springs is expected to reach an all-time high flood crest of approximately 22 feet, surpassing the previous record of 17.8 feet set during the 1911 flood. Unusually warm temperatures are contributing to snowmelt and runoff, exacerbating flood conditions. The Archuleta County Sheriff's Office restricted incoming traffic to Pagosa Springs beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Colorado Department of Transportation also closed Colorado Highway 172 south of Ignacio, Colorado Highway 151 south of Chimney Rock, and U.S. Highway 160 between Bayfield and Pagosa Springs. As of Sunday, only five residents had sought shelter at the Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association despite approximately 1,000 homes being in affected areas. Cellular service was disrupted in Archuleta County Sunday night, with residents advised to use Wi-Fi calling.
The National Weather Service reported that areas above 11,000 feet elevation received 8 to 12 inches of rain from Friday through Sunday afternoon. Durango recorded 1.5 inches of rain from Friday through Sunday afternoon, with another inch expected overnight. Pagosa Springs had received up to 1.7 inches of rain since Friday afternoon. The storm is hitting Archuleta County just as officials were beginning to make progress on recovery efforts following last week's flooding.
