South-West US Faces Further Flood Threats

Source reports published 25 Oct 2026, 10:00 am – 26 Oct 2026, 5:03 am AEST

Following days of heavy rain, the Four Corners region of the US is bracing for more storms. Local officials are focusing on water rescues and damage assessment as rivers continue to recede, though cleanup efforts are ongoing.

What happened

• Heavy showers and thunderstorms were expected to impact the south-west US on Sunday, following days of rain that caused evacuations and water rescues.
• The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for the Four Corners region – Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah.
• Local officials forecast further receding of swollen rivers that surged since Wednesday.
• Approximately 4ft (1 meter) of water flooded the home of Shane Ferrari, the sheriff of San Juan county, New Mexico.
• The New Mexico governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, reported hundreds of water rescues between Farmington and Bloomfield, with residents spending the night on rooftops.
• Devin Neeley, a San Juan County spokesperson, stated that floodwaters were receding but left mud and silt contaminated with sewage due to failures at waste plants.
• Power outages persisted across multiple areas.
• The Colorado Department of Transportation reported increased river flow levels and the closure of the San Juan River Bridge.

Original reporting

• Guardian: US south-west braces for more storms after enduring days of rain and flooding
  2026-10-25T00:00:00+00:00
• CBS News: Four Corners region faces more flood threats following days of heavy rain
  2026-10-25T19:03:38+00:00