Record Southwest Floods Force Evacuations and Alter Election Day Plans

Key points

• The San Juan River in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, reached 16.81 feet late Sunday, flooding downtown areas before receding Monday; this is close to the 1911 record of 17.8 feet.
• Williams Singavarapu, 73, was found dead in Flagstaff, Arizona, after falling into floodwaters; a second weather-related death was reported in the same city.
• Over 20 trillion gallons of rain have fallen on the Four Corners states and Nevada in the past two weeks, according to former NOAA chief scientist Ryan Maue.
• Flagstaff recorded 5.15 inches of rain over two days, marking its wettest November 1 ever; Workman Creek near Phoenix received 7.3 inches.
• The Colorado Secretary of State’s office arranged alternative voting plans for evacuated residents of Pagosa Springs, allowing mail ballots to be returned to any drop box by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
• The storm system is moving into the central US, bringing rain and wind to key race states like Iowa, Kansas, and Texas on Election Day, potentially suppressing voter turnout.

Background

This event follows a series of flood warnings issued on November 1, 2026, as the National Weather Service warned of up to 4 inches of rain in the already saturated Southwest. Earlier coverage noted that the region had been battered by previous storms, with one fatality reported in Henderson, Nevada, and multiple rescues underway. The current flooding is part of a broader pattern of extreme weather linked to El Niño, which has disrupted weather patterns across the Four Corners region.

How outlets are covering it

AP News and the Los Angeles Times emphasize the scale of the flooding, citing over 20 trillion gallons of rain and the near-record crest of the San Juan River. CNN highlights the storm’s eastward movement and its potential impact on Election Day turnout in the Midwest and Plains, noting that active weather tends to suppress voter participation. The Guardian focuses on the 'catastrophic' warnings in Pagosa Springs and the broad evacuation orders across Arizona and New Mexico, noting that the San Juan River was forecast to crest higher than the 1911 record but ultimately reached 16.81 feet. All sources agree on the severity of the event and the disruption to daily life, including voting, but differ in emphasis: AP and LA Times focus on the local impact and rainfall totals, CNN on the national electoral implications, and The Guardian on the immediate danger and evacuation orders.

Why it matters

The flooding demonstrates the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in the arid Southwest, driven by El Niño. It highlights the vulnerability of communities to rapid-onset flooding and the logistical challenges of maintaining essential services, such as voting, during natural disasters. The event also underscores the need for robust emergency response and infrastructure resilience in regions not typically accustomed to such heavy rainfall.

What to watch

The San Juan River is expected to recede, but other rivers in New Mexico and Arizona may continue to rise through Tuesday and Wednesday. The storm system is moving into the central US, bringing rain and wind to the Midwest and Plains for Election Day. Voters in affected areas are encouraged to use alternative voting methods or cast ballots early. Emergency crews will continue to conduct rescues and assess damage in the Southwest, while election officials will monitor turnout in states with wet conditions.