Heavy Rain Leaves Four Corners Bracing for More Flooding
WHO:
KUTV - The Navajo Police Department issued an evacuation notice for residents of Bluff, Montezuma Creek and Aneth; the notice said residents should prepare to be evacuated for multiple days.
KUTV - The Montezuma Creek EMS Station was listed as a contact for residents needing evacuation assistance: 435-651-3754.
CBS News - The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for much of the Four Corners region.
CBS News - Colorado Department of Transportation reported a significant overnight increase in San Juan River water levels.
CBS News, ABC News - San Juan County, New Mexico, Sheriff Shane Ferrari said his home was flooded and the area’s situation was stable, while residents worked to clean up and address damage.
CBS News, ABC News - San Juan County spokesperson Devin Neeley said the county had no official figures for home damage or evacuations and that he was unaware of any deaths.
CBS News - CBS News meteorologist Andrew Kozak said repeated torrential rain and storms could cause further flooding.
CBS News - Pagosa Springs resident Chris Mott said, “I'm sorry, buddy. I tried. I really tried. But this one was bigger than the last one,” and added, “It moved sandbags and everything.”
WHAT:
KUTV - The Navajo Police Department’s notice instructed residents to bring medications, identification, important documents, hygiene items, a change of clothes, pillows, blankets, cell phones and chargers.
KUTV - The National Weather Service issued an emergency alert for expected San Juan River flooding in southeastern Utah; officials said major flooding was expected from Four Corners to Mexican Hat, likely beginning Sunday morning and peaking around 5 p.m.
KUTV - Officials warned evacuees not to return home, citing severe hidden dangers in flooded zones.
KUTV - Shelters were set up at Aneth Community School and San Juan High School.
KUTV - The Four Corners region received nearly five inches of rain in a 48-hour period Wednesday and Thursday; several Utah schools in San Juan County released students early Wednesday and extended at-home learning the following day.
KUTV - An estimated 130 residential structures were damaged at one RV park in Hurricane City; neighborhoods along Gould Wash had been damaged by floodwaters for a second time in two months.
KUTV - New Mexico officials said people were trapped on roofs and in houses containing three to four feet of water. Archuleta County officials reported “catastrophic infrastructure damage,” while tornadoes in Arizona blew off roofs and knocked over trees and power lines.
CBS News, ABC News - Days of heavy rain in the Southwest led to evacuations and water rescues; another round of potentially heavy showers and thunderstorms threatened further flooding.
CBS News, ABC News - About 4 feet of water flooded Ferrari’s home.
CBS News - The San Juan River Bridge remained closed; a house in Pagosa Springs was almost entirely submerged, with only part of its roof and chimney visible.
CBS News, ABC News - Floodwaters were receding but left mud and silt, much of it contaminated with sewage after waste-plant failures. Power outages affected multiple areas, and residents were expected to wait a few days for power restoration.
CBS News, ABC News - Neeley said, “It’s a pretty active disaster zone,” and, “We’re not on the downswing by any means.”
WHERE:
KUTV - Evacuation orders covered Bluff, Montezuma Creek and Aneth in southeastern Utah; flooding was expected along the San Juan River from Four Corners to Mexican Hat.
CBS News, ABC News - The Four Corners region is where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah meet.
CBS News - Flooding affected Pagosa Springs and San Juan County, New Mexico; the San Juan River and its bridge were also affected.
CBS News - Potential flooding areas included roads, small streams, narrow canyons and burn scars.
CBS News, ABC News - The flooding occurred across the Southwest; recent deadly flooding also struck the Grand Canyon and areas of New Mexico.
WHEN:
CBS News, ABC News - The flood watch and threat of further storms were reported Sunday; swollen rivers had surged since rain increased Wednesday.
CBS News - Rain was forecast to spread across the central and northern Plains Sunday night, then move toward the Upper Midwest Monday and Tuesday.
CBS News, ABC News - The region had experienced two months of intermittent heavy rain.
WHY:
CBS News, ABC News - The heavy rain was caused by tropical moisture coming ashore from the Pacific.
CBS News, ABC News - The flooding followed months of drought.
HOW:
CBS News, ABC News - Rain and thunderstorms drove the flooding; sewage contamination resulted from failures at waste plants.
(UPDATED October 26, 2026 04:10 UTC)
Flooding across the Southwest has forced evacuations and water rescues, with more storms threatening the Four Corners region. In southeastern Utah, Navajo police told residents of Bluff, Montezuma Creek and Aneth to prepare to leave for several days and bring medication, identification, documents, clothes and other essentials. Shelters are open at Aneth Community School and San Juan High School, and officials warn evacuees not to return to flooded areas because of hidden dangers. The National Weather Service expects major San Juan River flooding from Four Corners to Mexican Hat, while a flood watch covers much of the region. Days of rain, fueled by tropical moisture from the Pacific, have swelled rivers and damaged homes and infrastructure. In San Juan County, New Mexico, Sheriff Shane Ferrari’s home took about four feet of water. Floodwaters are receding, but sewage-contaminated mud, power outages and further rain remain serious concerns.
--
(UPDATED October 25, 2026 20:00 UTC)
Days of heavy rain fueled by tropical moisture have brought flooding, evacuations and water rescues across the Southwest, including the Four Corners, where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah meet. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch as another round of potentially heavy showers and thunderstorms threatened more flooding. In San Juan County, New Mexico, Sheriff Shane Ferrari said about four feet of water flooded his home, though the situation was stable and residents were cleaning up. County spokesperson Devin Neeley said officials had no confirmed figures for damaged homes or evacuations, and he knew of no deaths. Floodwaters were receding, but left mud and silt, some contaminated by sewage after waste plants failed. Power outages could take days to resolve, and the San Juan River Bridge remained closed. Officials warned the area was still an active disaster zone, with further danger around roads, streams, canyons and burn scars.