Heavy weekend rainfall has triggered flash flooding and mandatory evacuations across parts of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona. On Monday, November 2, 2026, some rivers began receding, though others continued to rise as Pacific storm systems moved through the region.
In Colorado, the flooding has forced the Secretary of State's office to implement alternative voting plans for Pagosa Springs residents. Impacted residents who have not yet voted can visit any voter center across the state to request and receive a replacement ballot. Those casting in-person ballots outside their home county may only vote for statewide races, though mail ballots can be returned to any drop box or voter center in the state by 7 p.m. on Election Day for signature verification and tabulation.
In La Plata County, all roads remained closed Monday due to widespread flooding and bridge damage. While voting centers will remain open in the county, some offices, including the clerk's office, will have special hours on Tuesday. In neighboring Archuleta County, officials had previously warned of potentially catastrophic flooding in Pagosa Springs, though the San Juan River was forecast to keep dropping Monday after reaching 16.81 feet.
Evacuations were ordered for several areas across the Southwest. In Arizona, officials ordered residents near Oak Creek in Sedona to leave Sunday after floodwaters trapped multiple people in their homes. In Yavapai County and the community of Camp Verde, evacuations were ordered for residents near swollen rivers and creeks. Gila County officials ordered the total evacuation of Gisela, a community of several hundred located along Tonto Creek.
In New Mexico, new evacuations were ordered for some residents in San Juan County, including certain Navajo communities, as the San Juan River continued to rise. In Rio Arriba County, the Rio Chama remained under a flood warning through Tuesday. Additionally, the rising Jemez River made various campgrounds and fishing sites inaccessible.
Meteorologist David Byers with the weather service office in Grand Junction, Colorado, stated Monday that most of the rain is winding down and the next few days look drier. However, recent conditions have been severe, with meteorologist Aaron Hardin noting that Tucson has received two to three months of rain in a span of a couple of days. In the Pinetop-Lakeside area of central Arizona, the local sanitary district reported that manhole covers were popping up and sewage was backing up into homes due to the flooding.
