In brief
Heavy rains that began on Tuesday unleashed flash floods in the Southwest, flooding the Verde River in Sedona and the Green River in Pagosa Springs. Officials ordered the evacuation of at least 20 residents in Sedona and about 1,200 in Pagosa Springs, closing key roads and deploying emergency crews. Meteorologists attribute the storms to an El Niño pattern, warning that similar events could become more common as the climate changes.
On Sunday, November 2, heavy rain that began the day before triggered flash flooding in the southwestern United States, forcing residents of Sedona, Arizona, and Pagosa Springs, Colorado, to evacuate. Local officials reported that the Verde River in Sedona rose enough to flood downtown streets, and the Green River in Pagosa Springs surged, shutting roads and requiring emergency assistance.
In Sedona, county officials said at least 20 people were displaced and that emergency crews from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers responded to the flooding. Floodwaters trapped several individuals near Oak Creek, prompting officials to order residents in the area to leave overnight.
Across the state line, the Colorado Department of Transportation announced that the rise in the Green River forced the evacuation of about 1,200 residents in Pagosa Springs. Key roads were closed, and rescue efforts are ongoing as authorities struggle to keep people safe.
Both Arizona and Colorado officials cautioned residents not to drive or cross roadways during the high‑water conditions and urged those who could not evacuate to seek alternative shelter immediately.
Meteorologists note that the storms were part of a larger El Niño pattern combined with a weak high‑pressure ridge over the Great Basin. Scientists warn that flash floods like these could become more common as climate change intensifies extreme weather events in the region.
State and federal agencies are coordinating relief efforts, and officials have told residents to monitor local news for updates and to keep away from riverbanks and low‑lying areas until the water recedes.