Evacuations required in southwest Colorado as storms bring new round of historic flooding

This is a developing story.

Evacuations are underway in several counties in southwest Colorado, where another round of intense storms is expected to bring historic flood levels Sunday night into Monday morning, just a week after the waters last rose.

The National Weather Service issued a flood warning that began at 5 a.m. Sunday morning for much of the Four Corners areas, including Durango, Cortez, Ignacio, Silverton and Pagosa Springs. The watch will remain in effect until at least 11 a.m. Monday morning, with one to three inches of rain possible. Parts of the San Juan Mountains above 10,000 feet could see 12 to 18 inches of new snow.

The San Luis Valley is under a flood watch starting Sunday evening and continuing through Tuesday evening.

Highway closures:

The Colorado Department of Transportation has closed several highways due to flooding:

• US 160 is closed from Wolf Creek Pass to the South Fork, as well as downtown Pagosa Springs.
• CO 17 is closed from Alamosa to the New Mexico state line.
• CO 151 is closed from Chimney Rock to Arboles.

For the latest road closures, visit the CDOT Facebook page.

Archuleta County

In Archuleta County, the San Juan River at Pagosa Springs is expected to crest at 22 feet Sunday evening, surpassing last week’s two floods, as well as the record 17.8 feet from a 1911 flood, according to the National Weather Service.

The National Weather Service noted that this is a particularly dangerous situation, and the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office warns that it could be a “potentially catastrophic flood.” The 1911 flood destroyed most of what then existed as the town of Pagosa, according to the sheriff’s office.

The Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office announced mandatory evacuations for low-lying areas along the San Juan, Rio Blanco, Navajo and Piedra rivers. They advise all other county residents to shelter in place.

“PLEASE TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY,” the office warned in a message Sunday morning. “Conditions change quickly and emergency services may not be able to reach you when the storm is at its worst. »

South Metro Fire and Rescue, based in Centennial, said on social media that the state had asked it to send a swift water rescue team to Pagosa Springs to assist with operations. The ministry said it was the first such request it had received since helping with the 2013 Lyon floods.

The sheriff’s office also warns that sewage is being discharged into the San Juan River near the First St. Bridge in Pagosa Springs. All residents should avoid contact with water.

An emergency shelter is open at the Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association clubhouse, as well as another at Open Door Church.

As of 2 p.m., Pagosa Springs is closed to incoming traffic. Outgoing traffic will be allowed to leave depending on road conditions. Re-entry will not be permitted until authorities decide it is safe to return.

Conejos County

In Conejos County, evacuation orders are in place from Platoro, along the Conejos River Canyon to Fox Creek and Mogote, as well as Ortiz, San Antonio and Guadalupe, according to the sheriff’s office. The rest of the county, population 7,500, is in a pre-evacuation state.

“The last storm brought snow to higher elevations, and this storm is warmer,” said Niki Carpenter, Colorado state public information officer. “So we expect that in addition to the rain falling, a lot of the snowmelt will flow downstream. So we want people to be cautious and understand that the flood waters could expand beyond what they were last week.”

Additionally, the ground remains saturated from last week’s storm, meaning the rain currently falling has little capacity to be absorbed.

Carpenter urged Conejos County residents to check the county website and the sheriff’s office Facebook page for the latest updates.

Other areas of the region

In La Plata County, the sheriff’s office temporarily closed all roads in the county. Evacuation orders are in effect for the Junction Creek, Meadowbrook and Pine Winds mobile home parks, as well as homes north of Lakin Street in Ignacio.

In Rio Grande and Mineral counties, evacuation orders are in effect along the Rio Grande River, including Del Norte, South Fork and Monte Vista. You can find an updated evacuation map here.