A flood warning for the San Juan River remains in effect until 6 a.m. MDT Tuesday, October 27, according to a report published October 26. The National Weather Service warns that flood impacts will continue even though no additional rainfall is expected in the warning area.
The warning from the Grand Junction weather office covers western Montezuma County, Colorado, and southern San Juan County, Utah. It specifically concerns the river corridor between Four Corners and Mexican Hat. A separate Salt Lake City weather office warning also covers the San Juan River downstream of Bluff toward Lake Powell through Tuesday morning, warning that low-water crossings may be impassable and advising people to stay back from potentially unstable banks.
According to KSL reporting from Sunday evening, San Juan County issued a message at 8:30 p.m. Sunday instructing people south of Highway 191/Main Street on the river side of Bluff to leave immediately and head north toward Blanding. Earlier Navajo Nation evacuation notices were also issued for Montezuma Creek and Aneth. KSL reported restrictions for the Highway 160 bridge, Highway 162 east of Montezuma Creek, the west lanes on the Aneth Bridge at milepost 22, Navajo Route 35 south of Montezuma Creek, and the Montezuma Creek Bridge. Shelters were reported in Blanding and Montezuma Creek.
Travelers are advised to contact lodging or campgrounds before approaching, as an unanswered phone is not confirmation of normal operations. While a flood warning is scheduled to end at 6 a.m. MDT Tuesday, October 27, officials note that the expiration of a weather warning does not guarantee that road access or specific properties have reopened.
Travelers should check the latest NWS bulletins and official road restrictions before traveling. Decision-makers suggest verifying the entire route and final access rather than relying solely on a destination label or a map application's alternate routes.
The current flood warning covers several named communities, including Bluff, Mexican Hat, Tselakai Dezza, Halchita, Montezuma Creek, and Aneth.
