Colorado town braces for historic flood as heavy rains hit the Southwest

Heavy rainfall produced flash flooding and mandatory evacuations across a swath of the Southwest on Sunday, the Guardian reported. The storm forced mandatory evacuations in Arizona and New Mexico and left residents in the normally arid region dealing with another drenching.

In Colorado, the tourist town of Pagosa Springs, home to more than 2,000 people, is preparing for its main river to reach historic levels. Officials warned of potentially “catastrophic flooding” as the San Juan River was forecast to crest at more than 20 ft (6.1 meters) late on Sunday night. The town, located in the Rockies near ski resorts and known for its hot springs, is bracing for the surge.

The forecasted rise threatens to overwhelm local infrastructure and disrupt the community that relies on tourism and natural attractions.

Why it matters

The predicted river crest could cause severe flooding in a town that depends on tourism, putting residents and local businesses at risk.

Key details

Location

Mexico · Americas

Reported by

The Guardian

First reported

2 Nov 2026, 18:14 IST

Key names

Pagosa Springs, Arizona, Heavy, Colorado

Section

Environment

Figure cited

Officials in Pagosa Springs, a town of more than 2,000 in the Rockies located near ski resorts and known for its hot springs, warned of potentially “catastrophic flooding” as the San Juan River was… (The Guardian)

Sources

This is an independent summary. Read the full, original reporting from the publisher:

• The GuardianColorado town braces for historic flood as heavy rains batter south-west 2 Nov, 18:14

Read the full story at The Guardian ↗

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