Four Corners braces for more rain after floods force evacuations
A flood watch covers much of the Four Corners after days of rain forced evacuations and rescues. The San Juan River Bridge is closed and many residents remain without power.
The story in focus
CBS News reports the Four Corners region is bracing for more heavy showers and thunderstorms after days of rain caused evacuations and water rescues. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch, the San Juan River Bridge in Colorado is closed, and officials in San Juan County, New Mexico, say many residents remain evacuated and without power.
- The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for much of the Four Corners, where unusually heavy rain has fallen since Wednesday.
- The Colorado Department of Transportation closed the San Juan River Bridge after water flow rose significantly overnight.
- A San Juan County, New Mexico, spokesperson said damage figures were not official and he was not aware of any loss of life.
- Floodwaters left mud and silt contaminated with sewage after failures at waste plants, and power outages were expected to last days in some areas.
- Forecasters attributed the unusually heavy rainfall to El Niño.
Flood watch and closed bridge
CBS News reports that a rain-soaked stretch of the Southwest U.S. was preparing Sunday for another round of potentially heavy showers and thunderstorms after days of rain forced evacuations and water rescues. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for much of the Four Corners, where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah meet.
Unusually heavy rain since Wednesday caused rivers to surge, flooding homes and prompting rescues. CBS News meteorologist Andrew Kozak said repeated storms could flood more roads, small streams, narrow canyons and burn scars. The Colorado Department of Transportation said San Juan River flow rose significantly overnight and the San Juan River Bridge remained closed Sunday.
Damage, sewage and outages
San Juan County, New Mexico, Sheriff Shane Ferrari said about 4 feet of water flooded his home and described the area's situation as stable Sunday as residents cleaned up. County spokesperson Devin Neeley said the county had no official numbers on home damage or evacuees, but he was not aware of any loss of life.
Neeley said floodwaters were receding but left mud and silt, much of it contaminated with sewage after failures at waste plants. Power outages continued in multiple areas and restoration would likely take a few days. In the Farmington area, officials said rivers were receding but many people remained evacuated and hundreds lacked power. Forecasters linked the unusually heavy rainfall to El Niño.
Tornado and broader pattern
A tornado touched down in Santa Fe around 7 p.m. Saturday, and weather service meteorologist Scott Overpeck said forecasters were trying to confirm whether others struck elsewhere in New Mexico. He had no damage estimates. The flooding follows two months of on-and-off heavy rain from Pacific tropical moisture, after months of drought.
What is forecast for the Four Corners region after days of flooding?
The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for much of the region, with more heavy showers and thunderstorms possible that could flood roads, small streams, canyons and burn scars, CBS News reports.
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