Flood watch issued for Four Corners as heavy rain persists

The National Weather Service announced a flood watch covering the Four Corners area—where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah meet—after several days of rain produced widespread flooding and rescues. Meteorologist Andrew Kozak said repeated heavy rain could cause flooding of roads, small streams, narrow canyons and areas burned by previous wildfires, with the system expected to move into the central and northern Plains Sunday night and later into the Upper Midwest.

The Colorado Department of Transportation reported a significant rise in water flow on the San Juan River overnight, keeping the San Juan River Bridge closed. Video footage from Pagosa Springs showed a house partially submerged, and a resident, Chris Mott, described the flood as larger than a previous event, noting that it displaced sandbags.

San Juan County Sheriff Shane Ferrari said floodwaters reached about four feet inside his home but described the situation as stable, with residents focusing on cleanup. County spokesperson Devin Neeley said officials lacked precise damage estimates and were not aware of any fatalities. He added that receding waters left mud, silt and sewage contamination, and that power outages persisted, likely lasting several days.

"It's a pretty active disaster zone. We're not on the downswing by any means," Neeley said.