In brief
Record‑breaking rain in the Southwest sparked flash floods in Sedona, Arizona, and Pagosa Springs, Colorado. The overflowing Verde and Green Rivers closed roads and displaced more than a thousand residents, prompting emergency alerts and evacuation orders. Local officials warned of ongoing risks and urged people to stay away from riverbanks until the waters recede.
Heavy rain that began on Tuesday across the southwestern United States has sent the Verde River in Sedona, Arizona, and the Green River in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, into sudden, destructive floods that forced hundreds of residents to abandon their homes.
In Sedona, the river surged through historic downtown streets, trapping people in their houses and flooding streets. County officials reported that at least twenty people were displaced overnight. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers crews were dispatched to assist with evacuation and rescue operations.
Across the state line, the Green River rose sharply, prompting the Colorado Department of Transportation to order the evacuation of approximately 1,200 residents from Pagosa Springs. Flooding shut several key roads, and rescue teams continue to work to reach those stranded. Officials in both states have repeatedly issued warnings urging residents not to drive or attempt to cross flooded roadways.
Meteorologists who studied the storm say it was part of a larger El Niño pattern linked to a weak high‑pressure ridge over the Great Basin. Scientists note that the intensity of these flash floods could become more frequent as climate change heightens extreme weather events in the region.
The evacuations have left many without shelter and caused damage to several homes. State and federal agencies are coordinating relief efforts, with spokespersons asking residents to monitor local news for updates and to keep away from riverbanks and low‑lying areas until water levels subside.
While emergency crews work to clear debris and reopen roads, residents await further instructions. Local authorities are maintaining a heightened alert status, reminding the community that flooding can return as waters linger or new rains settle in the basin.
For the people of Sedona and Pagosa Springs, the event marks a stark reminder of how quickly mountainous terrains can turn from serene to dangerous, and it underscores the growing need for robust preparedness as climatologists predict more such storms in the future.
