Archuleta County residents evacuated due to river flooding

Mandatory evacuation orders were issued in Archuleta County, Colorado, for low-lying areas along the San Juan, Rio Blanco, Navajo, and Piedra rivers. The evacuations followed heavy rainfall from a tropical storm that deposited up to 6 inches of rain in areas such as Wolf Creek Pass and approximately 2.7 inches in Pagosa Springs.

The San Juan River peaked at 15.02 feet in Pagosa Springs on Friday morning before receding to approximately 12.2 feet by noon. Local infrastructure faced significant pressure, including a culvert failure at McCabe Creek under North Fifth Street.

The American Red Cross of Western Colorado opened a shelter at the Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association to assist displaced residents. While water levels began to recede on Friday, officials urged the public to avoid river areas as creeks and rivers in southwestern Colorado continued to flow heavily.