More Rain Threatens Flood-hit Southwest as Roads Shut Down
WHO:
The Colorado Sun - Forest Service district ranger Patrick Moran said road-condition assessments in some areas could take until spring because snow has blocked access to higher elevations.
The Colorado Sun - National Weather Service meteorologist Dennis Phillips said record precipitation had probably fallen in several Four Corners areas.
The Colorado Sun - Rio Grande County emergency management director Brian Burrell said water sampling would begin and testing labs could be overwhelmed.
The Colorado Sun - Archuleta County public information officer Vicki Shaffer said the saturated ground could not hold more rain.
NBC News - New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said flooding damage in the state could total $300 million.
NBC News - President Donald Trump announced federal disaster assistance for New Mexico; 25% of the assistance must be matched by state agencies.
NBC News - Bluff Mayor Josh Ewing said the town was preparing to recover while remaining alert for more flooding.
The Colorado Sun - Colorado Department of Transportation spokesperson Lisa Schwantes said rural Colorado’s U.S. and state highways are “the lifelines to all of the communities.”
The Colorado Sun - CDOT maintenance workers, engineers and hydrologists responded to highway emergencies.
WHAT:
The Colorado Sun - Gov. Jared Polis verbally declared a disaster emergency for 12 Colorado counties.
The Colorado Sun - The San Juan River at Pagosa Springs rose from about 5 feet to about 15 feet within two days, its second-highest crest since records began in 1911.
The Colorado Sun - Rio Grande County officials issued a boil-water advisory for residents after flooding overwhelmed sewage systems; sewage service was shut off in several subdivisions.
The Colorado Sun - About 80 homes remained under evacuation orders in Rio Grande County, and dozens of homes remained under evacuation orders in the county.
The Colorado Sun - Durango broke its October all-time precipitation record; the Animas River peaked above 11,000 cubic feet per second.
The Colorado Sun - Flooding damaged roads and homes, washed away a bridge, and temporarily knocked Monte Vista public radio stations offline when their antennas were underwater.
The Colorado Sun - Archuleta County responders checked more than 100 homes; the Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association Clubhouse served as an evacuation center.
The Colorado Sun - La Plata County’s Animas River reopened to recreational boating after flows stayed below 5,000 cubic feet per second.
The Colorado Sun - Mineral County indefinitely closed its community center and mining museum after water damaged the building’s electrical system.
NBC News - Flooding along the San Juan River inundated parts of communities in Colorado and New Mexico; Bluff, Utah, became the latest town to evacuate.
NBC News - Hundreds of homes in Farmington, New Mexico, Pagosa Springs, Colorado, and other communities along the San Juan and Animas rivers remained evacuated or cut off by flooded roads; many homes lacked power.
NBC News - Lujan Grisham said she would “frontload” state resources for recovery and expressed concern about the federal matching requirement.
The Colorado Sun - Flooding caused more than a dozen emergency road closures. Three major closures remained: two on U.S. 160 and one on Colorado 151.
The Colorado Sun - U.S. 160 was closed for more than 30 miles from Pagosa Springs over Wolf Creek Pass to South Fork, and for 18 miles near the San Juan River Bridge. Colorado 151 was closed for about 12 miles south of Chimney Rock.
The Colorado Sun - U.S. 160 closures damaged or threatened infrastructure, including a failed culvert, sinkhole, undercut road, damaged shoulder and retaining wall. Inspectors were assessing the San Juan River Bridge.
The Colorado Sun - Colorado 151 was severed about 7 miles south of its U.S. 160 intersection; CDOT planned emergency repairs and a temporary access road.
The Colorado Sun - Reopened routes included U.S. 160 west of Pagosa Springs, U.S. 550 over Red Mountain Pass, U.S. 285 north of Monte Vista, Colorado 112 between Del Norte and Center, and Colorado 17 from Antonito to the Colorado-New Mexico border.
WHERE:
The Colorado Sun - A boil-water advisory covered private-well users throughout Rio Grande County and potentially flood-affected wells in Mineral County along the South Fork of the Rio Grande.
The Colorado Sun - Flooding closed La Plata County roads 334 and 520 and left one lane open on sections of roads 319 and 314.
NBC News - Flooding affected the Four Corners region, including southeastern Utah, Colorado and New Mexico.
The Colorado Sun - Flood closures affected southwestern Colorado, including routes near Pagosa Springs, South Fork, Cortez and Chimney Rock.
WHEN:
NBC News - More heavy rain was forecast for Bluff on Friday night and Sunday.
The Colorado Sun - CDOT said the storm began Wednesday evening; flooding peaked Thursday and Friday.
WHY:
The Colorado Sun - Remnants of Pacific Hurricane Trudy brought up to 7 inches of rain in some areas, overwhelming streams and rivers and damaging roads, shoulders and culverts.
HOW:
The Colorado Sun - A roughly 6.4-mile levee system along both banks of the Rio Grande protected Alamosa and nearby areas; the river reached 3,500 cubic feet per second without reported adverse effects.
The Colorado Sun - Closure of Wolf Creek Pass forces travelers to detour through New Mexico, adding a couple of hours to commutes; the pass normally carries 2,700 to 3,400 vehicles daily.
The Colorado Sun - Traffic near the San Juan River Bridge was rerouted through Cortez and Monticello, Utah; Colorado 41 was not an alternative because of flooding.
The Colorado Sun - CDOT advised drivers not to travel during flood watches or warnings and never to drive through floodwater. Water 8 to 10 inches deep can float an average-sized car; motorists were also warned about hydroplaning, hidden debris and using cruise control in standing water.
The Colorado Sun - CDOT advised travelers to carry an emergency kit with water, snacks, a flashlight and blanket, plus supplies for pets and children.
(UPDATED October 27, 2026 22:11 UTC)
Flooding across the Four Corners has damaged homes, washed away a bridge and forced hundreds of people from their homes, while Colorado has declared a disaster emergency in 12 counties and President Trump has announced federal assistance for New Mexico. Remnants of Hurricane Trudy brought as much as seven inches of rain, sending rivers to record or near-record levels and closing major highways, including long stretches of U.S. 160 and Colorado 151; New Mexico’s governor says damage could reach $300 million. Residents in parts of Rio Grande County face a boil-water advisory after sewage systems were overwhelmed, and officials warn that some road assessments may take until spring as crews repair damage and monitor conditions.
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(UPDATED October 27, 2026 16:13 UTC)
Flooding across the Four Corners has inundated communities in Utah, Colorado and New Mexico, forcing evacuations, cutting off roads and power, and prompting Bluff, Utah, to evacuate as more heavy rain is forecast. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham says the damage could reach $300 million, while President Trump has announced federal disaster assistance that requires the state to cover 25% of the cost. In southwestern Colorado, flood-damaged highways remain closed, including stretches of U.S. 160 and Colorado 151, and officials warn drivers to avoid flooded roads as crews assess damage and make repairs.