Bluff businesses and residents have begun the cleanup process following catastrophic flooding along the San Juan River, which saw water levels reach record heights on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. The flooding, caused by excessive rainfall, triggered mandatory evacuation orders for the town of Bluff and several surrounding communities.
Record River Crests
The San Juan River experienced extreme cresting on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. According to data from the National Weather Service, the river was forecast to peak at 43.6 feet early Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, a level that significantly exceeds the previous record crest of 32.0 feet recorded on Sept. 10, 1927. At 9:30 AM MDT on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, the river stage near Bluff was recorded at 19.6 feet, while the bankfull stage is 22.0 feet.
Mandatory Evacuations Issued
The flooding prompted a Level 3 evacuation order for the entire town of Bluff on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. San Juan County issued a Wireless Emergency Alert via PBS WARN, instructing residents on the south side of Highway 191/Main Street to evacuate immediately due to rising waters. The order warned that evacuation routes could become compromised and emergency services might become unavailable.
Road Closures and Safety
Emergency management officials from the Navajo Department of Emergency Management urged the public to stay off the roads to allow responders to work around the clock. During the height of the flooding, Highway 162 was reported impassable at milepost 17 due to water flowing over the roadway. Other closures included Highway 162 east of Montezuma Creek and Navajo Route 35 south of Montezuma Creek.
Emergency Shelter Locations
Two emergency shelters were established to assist displaced residents. The Utah Navajo Health System reported that San Juan High School at 311 North Bronco Blvd, Blanding, UT 84511 served as a primary shelter. A second shelter was located at the Aneth Community School at 162 San Juan County Rd. #466, Montezuma Creek, UT 84534.
Monitoring and Data Impact
Monitoring equipment at the USGS station near Bluff sustained damage during the recent flooding. As of 9:00 AM MDT on Oct. 26, 2026, real-time imagery from the site was not available due to the damage. USGS data showed the river height at 22.89 feet at 11:30 PM MDT on Oct. 26, 2026, remaining above the action stage of 22 feet and the flood stage of 23 feet.
Regional Impact
The flooding impacted several communities, including Mexican Hat, Tselakai Dezza, Bluff, Halchita, Montezuma Creek, and Aneth. While the river was forecast to fall below flood stage by early Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, the impact of the catastrophic rainfall continues to affect the region.
Emergency Operations Rules
Authorities maintained a strict no-drone policy over the impacted areas of Aneth and Montezuma Creek during the emergency response to prevent safety hazards and interference with critical operations.
