Posted on 10/23/2026 4:57:59 AM PDT by george76
A disaster emergency has been declared by Gov. Jared Polis over flooding in La Plata, Archuleta, Montezuma, Dolores, Hinsdale, San Miguel, Ouray, San Juan, Mineral, Alamosa, and Rio Grande counties.
A mandatory evacuation order has been issued for residents along the San Juan, Rio Blanco, Navajo and Piedra rivers in Archuleta County.
All low-lying and flood-prone areas along the rivers are under mandatory evacuation, according to the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office and the town of Pagosa Springs.
Two evacuation centers have been opened by the Red Cross of Western Colorado:
....
All schools in the Archuleta School District will be closed Friday. “Conditions remain unpredictable, and the safety of our students, staff, and families is our top priority,” the district said.
A travel advisory has been issued for Highway 160 between mile markers 134 and 144. The sheriff’s office says travel in the area is strongly discouraged.
At 5:30 p.m., Pagosa Springs Police Department said emergency road closures are in place for Hermosa Street and San Juan Street due to safety concerns.
“Residents who live on these streets and have evacuated may be escorted back into the affected area for a brief period, if conditions allow,” the department said. “Access will be limited and coordinated with public safety personnel.”
The flooding has led to additional closures, including hiking trails along the San Juan River, boat ramps at San Juan River Park and Yamaguchi Park, along with Town Park, Mary Fisher Park, Centennial Park, River Center Park and Cotton Hole Park in downtown Pagosa Springs.
...
Thursday’s mandatory evacuations and flood warnings come almost exactly a year after flooding in Pagosa Springs and the Vallecito Valley, when water levels rose quickly in October 2025.
Dear FRiends,
We need your continuing support to keep FR funded. Your donations are our sole source of funding. No sugar daddies, no advertisers, no paid memberships, no commercial sales, no gimmicks, no tax subsidies. No spam, no pop-ups, no ad trackers.
If you enjoy using FR and agree it's a worthwhile endeavor, please consider making a contribution today:
Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you,
Jim
Colorado Ping ( Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from the list.)
put me on this ping list.
I’m interested in the water levels at the reservoirs at navajo and lake powell. the water gauges at those reservoirs have been ticking up from historical low levels daily for weeks.
You are added. Thank you.
Some local reports, too.
Pagosa Springs had a big flood just over a year or so ago. I was there about 2 months after and a lot of stuff along the main street were washed away (even the construction zone where they were widening the street).
Rapid assessment led by CIRES researchers dives deep into Pagosa Springs’ third-largest flood on record..
Pictures, too..
Question: will these waters feed Lake Powell and Lake Mead?
An easterner in Virginia.....
That’s very scary.
Quite.
October 2026, Vallecito Reservoir in Colorado is 99% full ..
-2- Hurricane, Utah declares emergency over flooding; warning for many areas near Lake Powell.. Flood warning issued along Colorado River Basin.. flood warnings have been issued at Zion National Park and ..
Se the map..
https://www.ksl.com/article/51639727/hurricane-police-issue-evacuation-orders-due-to-flooding
Locals correct me if I’m wrong...
Aren’t there the headwaters of the Colorado River...which has been running out of water?
El Nino may be a blessing for the Southwest.
Years ago, southwest Georgia got flooded pretty bad. I had to go about 16 miles out of the way to get to my sister's house, which was literally right down the road.
Someone wrote a letter to the Macon Telegraph saying this was God's punishment for Georgia taking up "gambling". Meaning lottery and scratch tickets, like most states do.
That was funny.
The problem is California is taking too much Colorado (and Owens Valley water to LA) water, California should use the ocean / which has a lot of water thru desalination plants.. Cheaper to steal ..
Second problem, Denver and other front range areas divert the Colorado River thru many tunnels
Severe thunderstorms across southwestern Colorado .. U.S. Route 550 between Silverton and Ouray closed because of damage caused by heavy rainfall and flooding, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.
note the map
https://x.com/NWSGJT/status/2113373310390059028
SEND IT HERE!!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.