Archuleta County floods force evacuations along four rivers in Colorado
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Archuleta County ordered evacuations on October 22 along four rivers near Pagosa Springs.
- The San Juan River was expected to reach "major flood" stage Thursday night into Friday morning.
- Shelter is at 550 Hot Springs Blvd, and several roads are closed across the county.
Officials in Archuleta County, Colorado, ordered mandatory evacuations on Thursday afternoon. The orders cover low-lying areas along four rivers near Pagosa Springs: the San Juan, Rio Blanco, Navajo, and Piedra.
The orders came just as the heaviest rain was moving in.
What happened
The county sheriff and the town of Pagosa Springs issued a mandatory evacuation order. The order came shortly before 2 pm on Thursday. It covers low-lying, flood-prone areas along the four river corridors, CPR reported.
The Pagosa Daily Post gave a more exact time: 2:24 pm. That was October 22, a Thursday. The order covers low-lying areas along the San Juan River and its tributaries.
The National Weather Service in Grand Junction issued a flood warning at 5:44 pm Thursday. The warning covers Archuleta County and runs through 5:45 am Friday, CPR reported.
Rain had already soaked the area, and a community weather network measured Thursday morning's rain. It ranged from 1.09 to 1.78 inches in 24 hours. Forecasters expect another 1.5 to 2.5 inches in the Pagosa Springs area.
The rain is fed by tropical moisture from the southwest. The air held 300 to 350 percent of normal moisture. Forecasters called the setup potentially life-threatening into Friday morning.
The San Juan River in Pagosa Springs was expected to reach major flood stage Thursday evening. The river flood warning runs through Friday evening, according to Pagosa Weather.
Crews saw the threat coming. Rescue teams, county public works, and the sheriff's office filled sandbags earlier in the week. They acted after a flood watch advisory that was expected to last through Friday.
Why it matters
Evacuations are not suggestions. The Pagosa Daily Post reported that emergency services might be unable to reach people who stay. That is the key warning for residents in the four river corridors.
Shelter is open. People who evacuate can get shelter information at the county human services office. The office is at 550 Hot Springs Blvd.
These roads are closed:
- County Road 500: impassable from Mile Marker 12 to Highway 151
- North Pagosa Boulevard: closed from Mile Marker 3.5 to Hatcher Circle
- CO 151: shut south of the US 160 junction
- Hermosa Street and San Juan Street in Pagosa Springs
Colorado's highway agency closed US 550 over Red Mountain Pass between Silverton and Ouray. The closure came in anticipation of heavy rain and flooding.
La Plata County is affected too. Southeastern La Plata County is under a flood warning until midnight Thursday night. A pre-evacuation order covered the North Vallecito area around 6 pm.
Heavy rain collapsed a culvert on County Road 509 near Dry Creek, washing out the road. Other La Plata County roads are closed or down to one lane.
Floods have hit other regions this year. Rive News has also covered record flash flooding in Queensland. Another report covered a noreaster's coastal flooding on the Outer Banks.
What happens next
The worst rain was expected Thursday afternoon into early Friday morning. Showers and storms will ease through the rest of Friday.
A severe thunderstorm watch was in effect until 9 pm Thursday. Large hail and damaging winds were possible with the stronger storms.
Another round of rain could arrive Saturday afternoon into Saturday night. A ridge will then dry out the region from Monday through next Wednesday.
Rain will turn to snow high in the mountains. The snow line drops to about 11,000 feet by Friday noon.
People near the rivers should follow the Archuleta County Sheriff's updates. The National Weather Service issues the official warnings. Never drive through flooded roads.
Archuleta County is used to mountain weather, but this storm carried far more moisture than normal. How fast the rivers fall now depends on Friday's rain. The weekend's second storm will matter too.
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