Heavy rainfall across the U.S. Southwest led to mandatory evacuation orders and flash flooding in Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Officials in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, issued warnings of potentially catastrophic flooding as the San Juan River was projected to crest at 21.9 feet, exceeding the levels of a major 1911 flood event.
The weather event followed a period of saturation from previous storms, with meteorologists reporting that some areas received two to three months' worth of rain in just a few days. The National Weather Service issued flood warnings and watches covering nearly all of Arizona, as well as parts of southern Utah, southwestern Colorado, western New Mexico, and southern Nevada.
In Sedona, Arizona, emergency crews used helicopters for rescues after Oak Creek flooded, trapping residents in their homes. To the southeast, officials ordered a total evacuation of Gisela, a community of several hundred people, due to rising water in Tonto Creek. In Flagstaff, police reported that a search was underway for a man who fell into fast-moving floodwaters and did not resurface.
Further impacts were reported in Pinetop-Lakeside, where sanitary district officials stated that flooding caused manhole covers to dislodge and sewage to back up into homes. In Pagosa Springs, residents were advised to avoid contact with the San Juan River due to sewage discharge. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs confirmed that state air rescue and transportation crews were deployed to assist with evacuations and debris removal.
Residents in affected areas are experiencing immediate disruptions to basic services and transportation. The highway into Pagosa Springs was closed and roads in La Plata County were closed due to flooding. Additionally, the discharge of sewage into river systems and backups into residential properties in Pinetop-Lakeside present public health risks.
The heavy runoff sets a precedent for increased flash flood vulnerability in the Four Corners region, as the National Weather Service warned that already saturated soil makes backcountry roads impassable. While rains subsided in some areas like Sedona by Sunday afternoon, the weather system was expected to continue affecting the region through Monday, November 2. Local emergency agencies remain limited in their response capacity as they monitor river levels and continue search-and-rescue operations.