Floodwaters washed out a bridge and inundated homes and businesses in southwest Colorado after heavy rain sent rivers and creeks over their banks on Sunday and Monday, according to local news reports.
The Colorado Sun reported that the San Juan River in Pagosa Springs appeared to crest at 16.81 feet, nearly two feet above its peak during flooding the previous week. The outlet said damage included a washed-out bridge, flooded roads and downed trees.
The Denver Post reported that the latest flooding was the region’s second destructive episode in less than two weeks, with water reaching homes and businesses and people left stranded. Officials across La Plata, Archuleta, Rio Grande, Mineral, Conejos and Montezuma counties were assessing damage as water began to recede on Monday. Evacuation orders and widespread road closures remained in place at that time.
The flooding followed rain falling on ground already saturated by the earlier storms. National Weather Service meteorologist Eric Petersen told the Denver Post that the water had little place to go, while reservoirs were already filled close to capacity.
Emergency crews were also being deployed. CBS Colorado reported that Colorado Task Force 1 was activated on Monday and sent a 17-member swiftwater and flood rescue team to support local responders.
The Colorado Sun said no fatalities had been reported in the state in its coverage. The supplied reports do not establish the full scale of damage or provide a later account of evacuation orders and road closures; conditions described here reflect reporting published on November 2 and 3.
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