Heavy rains cause widespread flooding and evacuations across the Four Corners region

Intense rainstorms that began Wednesday have produced record river flows and brown floodwaters across the Four Corners area, forcing road closures, mandatory evacuations and emergency declarations in Colorado, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico. In San Juan County, New Mexico, public information officer Devin Neeley described the situation as unusually dangerous, noting that flood levels are the highest seen in generations. Emergency crews rescued residents from rooftops as floodwater entered homes and the San Juan River, and an emergency declaration was issued with evacuation orders for vulnerable neighborhoods. Southern Utah declared an emergency after more than 100 homes and recreational vehicles were damaged, and Governor Spencer Cox expressed sympathy for affected families. In Farmington, New Mexico, Police Chief Steve Hebbe said no fatalities had been reported but warned that the conditions remain serious. Colorado Governor Jared Polis declared disaster emergencies for 11 counties and activated National Guard personnel to assist with rescues. The Navajo Nation police reported rescuing seven families, totaling about 30 people, while the Hopi Tribe declared a state of emergency due to damage to roads, bridges and homes. Meteorologist Kris Sanders of the National Weather Service said the remnants of Hurricane Trudy formed a slow-moving low-pressure system that delivered two to six inches of rain in the region, setting local rainfall records. Climate scientist Daniel Swain linked the heavy precipitation to unusually warm Pacific waters driven by a strong El Niño event and a marine heat wave, which he said are consistent with climate-change projections. Authorities warned that the threat persists, with thunderstorm watches remaining in effect through Sunday, and communities such as San Juan County remain on alert for further damage and safety risks.