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Why the desert Southwest is flooding in October
By The Trends Incoming team · Published 2026-10-24
Floods in late October, in the desert? It sounds backwards, but that's exactly what the Four Corners dealt with this week.
What it is
Days of heavy rain sent rivers and washes over their banks across Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico on October 22 and 23. In Pagosa Springs, Colorado, the San Juan River crested just over 15 feet early Friday, and the county ordered evacuations along four rivers. CDOT closed big mountain routes including Wolf Creek Pass and Red Mountain Pass.
| Hardest hit | Pagosa Springs, CO; Hurricane, UT; northern AZ and NM |
|---|---|
| River crest | Just over 15 ft, San Juan River, Fri 5:30 a.m. |
| Rescues | 4 lifted by helicopter south of Sedona (NBC News) |
| What's next | More rain possible this weekend (AP) |
Why it's trending
The videos did it: a shipping container floating down a street in Hurricane, Utah, cars swept away in Arizona and homes ringed by water in Colorado. Dry, hard ground can't soak up a sudden downpour, so water runs off fast and canyons channel it into flash floods. And with the ground now saturated, even moderate rain this weekend could cause new trouble, officials warn.
Where to follow it
Use official channels first: COtrip.org for Colorado roads, your county's alert system (Archuleta County uses Nixle: text 81147 to 888777) and the National Weather Service. On social, #COwx and #AZwx carry live reports. Our Four Corners flooding guide has the closures and FAQs, and the fall weather watch rounds up the season.
Quick answers
Where is the flooding in the Four Corners?
Southwest and south-central Colorado (including Pagosa Springs), southern Utah, northern Arizona and northern New Mexico, on October 22 and 23, 2026.
How high did the San Juan River get in Pagosa Springs?
It peaked just over 15 feet at the Pagosa Springs gauge around 5:30 a.m. on Friday, October 23, then started to recede, per the Pagosa Springs Sun.
Is Wolf Creek Pass open?
CDOT listed US 160 over Wolf Creek Pass as closed as of 8 a.m. on October 23. Check COtrip.org for the latest.
Will it rain more in the Four Corners this weekend?
Forecasters say more heavy rain is possible this weekend, and flood watches were in effect in southeast Utah, per AP.
Follow it
The trend card
Flash floods hit the Four Corners
Mandatory evacuations in Pagosa Springs, helicopter rescues in Arizona and closed mountain passes in Colorado. The San Juan River crested just over 15 feet, and more rain is possible this weekend.
Sources
- Pagosa Springs Sun: river levels declining (Oct 23)
- Pagosa Springs Sun: mandatory evacuation order
- CDOT: flood road closures (Oct 23)
- AP: Four Corners flooding rescues and evacuations
- NBC Nightly News, Oct 23
- COtrip road conditions
By The Trends Incoming team · Fact-checked 2026-10-31. Dates change, so double-check with the official source.