---
title: "Southwest US Floods: Evacuations Ordered Amid Heavy Rains"
publication: "MediaBias News"
url: "https://mediabias.news/tech/southwest-us-floods-evacuations-ordered-amid-heavy-rains"
api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/southwest-us-floods-evacuations-ordered-amid-heavy-rains"
markdown: "https://mediabias.news/tech/southwest-us-floods-evacuations-ordered-amid-heavy-rains.md"
audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/southwest-us-floods-evacuations-ordered-amid-heavy-rains"
category: "Science & Tech"
area: "United States"
published: "2026-11-01T23:05:16.700Z"
source_reported: "2026-11-01T21:56:41.000Z"
updated: "2026-11-01T23:05:16.700Z"
trust_score: 86
critic_score: 95
hype_score: 12
assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis"
fact_check_status: "not-performed"
coverage_measured: "2026-11-01T23:00:14.202147+00:00"
---

# Southwest US Floods: Evacuations Ordered Amid Heavy Rains

*Colorado town braces for historic river crest as Arizona residents flee rising waters.*

**Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): 

- Trust 86 of 100, higher is better. Trust 86: multiple named officials, official statements, and specific figures from two independent full reports.
- Craft 95 of 100, higher is better. Critic 95: clear context, quotes, specific data, and future outlook make the reporting well‑crafted.
- Hype 12 of 100, lower is better. Hype 12: language is measured with no clickbait or exaggerated claims.

Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology.

**The short version**

- Heavy rains are causing flash flooding across the Southwestern United States.
- Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in parts of Arizona and Colorado.
- The San Juan River in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, is forecast to crest at over 19 feet, potentially exceeding levels seen in a 1911 flood.
- Up to 4 inches of rain are estimated to fall across the region, with flood watches issued for multiple states.

Heavy rainfall has led to flash flooding and mandatory evacuations across a wide area of the Southwest. In Pagosa Springs, Colorado, officials warned of potentially catastrophic flooding as the San Juan River was forecast to crest at more than 19 feet (5.8 meters) around 11:00 p.m. Sunday. This level is higher than the approximately 17.8 feet (5.4 meters) recorded during a devastating flood in 1911 that significantly impacted the town. In Sedona, Arizona, residents near Oak Creek were ordered to evacuate immediately due to rapidly rising floodwaters, with multiple people reported trapped in their homes. Similar evacuation orders were issued in Camp Verde, Arizona, for areas near the Verde River and nearby creeks.

The National Weather Service estimated that up to 4 inches (10 cm) of rain could fall across the region, fueled by a series of Pacific storm systems. Flood watches were issued for nearly all of Arizona, and parts of southern Utah, southwestern Colorado, western New Mexico, and southern Nevada. Meteorologists noted that the region is receiving two to three months' worth of rain in a matter of days. Emergency crews from surrounding communities were mobilized to assist in Sedona, where fire officials shared videos of floodwaters inundating vehicles and structures.

## Disagreement on El Niño's role

Regional Media News reported that a stormy El Niño pattern is drenching the Southwest with rain. None of the other 25 reports mention El Niño in relation to the current weather events.

## What the coverage left out

None of the left, centre, or right-rated reports below mention the specific date of the heavy rainfall, stating only that it began Saturday evening and was expected to continue through Monday. The full reports from My Mother Lode and ABC News, however, do provide this detail.

## Who covered it

Shares of the 24 covering outlets with a published leaning rating:

- Left: 54% (13)
- Centre: 29% (7)
- Right: 17% (4)

2 of 26 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-11-01T23:00:14.202147+00:00.

**Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-11-01T23:15:17.744Z.

## How the sides framed it

### Left

- Left-rated reports led with the flash flooding and mandatory evacuations in Arizona and Colorado. They highlighted the San Juan River in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, being forecast to crest at more than 19 feet and warned of potentially catastrophic flooding. These reports also detailed the immediate evacuation orders in Sedona, Arizona, due to rapidly rising waters and people trapped in their homes. The amount of rainfall, estimated at up to 4 inches, and the issuance of flood watches across multiple states were also prominent. The Archuleta County Sheriff's Office warning about the 1911 flood's crest of 17.8 feet was included to contextualise the current forecast.

### Centre

- Centre-rated reports focused on the flash flooding and mandatory evacuations in the Southwest, specifically mentioning Sedona, Arizona, and Pagosa Springs, Colorado. They noted the San Juan River's forecast crest of over 19 feet and the potential for catastrophic flooding. The immediate evacuation orders in Sedona due to rising waters and trapped residents were also a key point. These reports included the National Weather Service estimate of up to 4 inches of rain and the flood watches issued for several states. Some centre-rated reports mentioned that heavy rains had already brought deadly flooding to the region this fall.

### Right

- Right-rated reports highlighted the flash flooding and mandatory evacuations in Arizona and Colorado. They mentioned the San Juan River in Pagosa Springs being forecast to crest at more than 19 feet. These reports also noted the heavy rains in the normally arid region. One right-rated digest mentioned an El Niño pattern as the cause of the rainfall.

**Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding.

## Factuality profile of the covering outlets

These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true.

- mixed: 2
- high: 12
- unknown: 2
- veryHigh: 10

## Verification scope

This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true.

## Original reporting this was written from

- [regionalmedianews.com](https://regionalmedianews.com/news/national/el-nino-taking-aim-at-southwest-today) — El Nino Taking Aim At Southwest Today - Regional Media News
- [My Mother Lode](https://mymotherlode.com/news/national/11272862/flash-floods-trigger-evacuations-in-arizona-and-colorado-amid-heavy-rains-in-southwest.html) — Flash floods trigger evacuations in Arizona and Colorado amid heavy rains in southwest
- [PressNewsAgency](https://pressnewsagency.org/flash-floods-trigger-evacuations-in-arizona-and-colorado-amid-heavy-rains-in-southwest) — Flash floods trigger evacuations in Arizona and Colorado amid heavy rains in southwest
- [Crossville Chronicle](https://crossville-chronicle.com/news/ap_news/flash-floods-trigger-evacuations-in-arizona-and-colorado-amid-heavy-rains-in-southwest/article_df2c9e85-3509-5c60-96ad-7c6176b9d2d3.html) — Flash floods trigger evacuations in Arizona and Colorado amid heavy rains in southwest
- [Haberler](https://haberler.com/guncel/abd-de-arizona-ve-colorado-da-seller-nedeniyle-20386200-haberi) — In the US, Residents in Arizona and Colorado Have Been Ordered to Evacuate Due to Flooding.
- [Washington Times](https://washingtontimes.com/news/2026/nov/1/flash-floods-trigger-evacuations-arizona-colorado-amid-heavy-rains) — Flash floods trigger evacuations in Arizona and Colorado amid heavy rains in southwest
- [WBAL](https://wbal.com/flash-floods-trigger-evacuations-in-arizona-and-colorado-amid-heavy-rains-in-southwest) — Flash floods trigger evacuations in Arizona and Colorado amid heavy ra
- [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/flash-floods-trigger-evacuations-in-arizona-and-colorado-amid-heavy-rains-in-southwest) — Flash floods trigger evacuations in Arizona and Colorado amid heavy rains in southwest
- [Newsday](https://newsday.com/news/nation/sedona-arizona-pagosa-springs-colorado-southwest-flooding-d56197) — Flash floods trigger evacuations in Arizona and Colorado amid heavy rains in southwest
- [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/world/united-states/flash-floods-trigger-evacuations-in-arizona-and-colorado-amid-heavy-rains-in-southwest/article_4dae3336-b614-57ff-94a1-b68aa8b3d37c.html) — Flash floods trigger evacuations in Arizona and Colorado amid heavy rains in southwest
- [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/colorado-flash-floods-arizona-facebook-southwest-b3077178.html) — Flash floods trigger evacuations in Arizona and Colorado amid heavy rains in southwest
- [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/colorado-flash-floods-arizona-facebook-southwest-b3077178.html) — Flash floods trigger evacuations in Arizona and Colorado amid heavy rains in southwest
- [The Times-Tribune](https://thetimestribune.com/news/national_news/flash-floods-trigger-evacuations-in-arizona-and-colorado-amid-heavy-rains-in-southwest/article_7a5b2679-7333-55cf-aa97-6e101825fbbc.html) — Flash floods trigger evacuations in Arizona and Colorado amid heavy rains in southwest
- [Yuma Sun](https://yumasun.com/news/national_news/flash-floods-trigger-evacuations-in-arizona-and-colorado-amid-heavy-rains-in-southwest/article_710da03d-08b6-514b-bc84-45cf1329388a.html) — Flash floods trigger evacuations in Arizona and Colorado amid heavy rains in southwest
- [abc News](https://abcnews.com/US/wireStory/flash-floods-trigger-evacuations-arizona-colorado-amid-heavy-137753110) — Flash floods trigger evacuations in Arizona and Colorado amid heavy rains in southwest
- [MY Northwest](https://mynorthwest.com/national/flash-floods-trigger-evacuations-in-arizona-and-colorado-amid-heavy-rains-in-southwest/4293081) — Flash floods trigger evacuations in Arizona and Colorado amid heavy rains in southwest
- [WPLG](https://local10.com/news/national/2026/11/01/flash-floods-trigger-evacuations-in-arizona-and-colorado-amid-heavy-rains-in-southwest) — Flash floods trigger evacuations in Arizona and Colorado amid heavy rains in southwest
- [WKMG](https://clickorlando.com/news/national/2026/11/01/flash-floods-trigger-evacuations-in-arizona-and-colorado-amid-heavy-rains-in-southwest) — Flash floods trigger evacuations in Arizona and Colorado amid heavy rains in southwest
- [Bangor Daily News](https://bangordailynews.com/2026/11/01/nation/flash-floods-trigger-evacuations-in-arizona-and-colorado-amid-heavy-rains-in-southwest) — Flash floods trigger evacuations in Arizona and Colorado amid heavy rains in southwest
- [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/greenpage/2026/11/01/flash-floods-trigger-evacuations-in-arizona-and-colorado-amid-heavy-rains-in-southwest) — Flash floods trigger evacuations in Arizona and Colorado amid heavy rains in southwest
- [The Hamilton Spectator](https://thespec.com/life/flash-floods-trigger-evacuations-in-arizona-and-colorado-amid-heavy-rains-in-southwest/article_d892fc51-de40-58af-ad1d-f072aa04ef52.html) — Flash floods trigger evacuations in Arizona and Colorado amid heavy rains in southwest
- [The Record](https://therecord.com/life/flash-floods-trigger-evacuations-in-arizona-and-colorado-amid-heavy-rains-in-southwest/article_378cfd90-894e-51ae-8501-69172b53394f.html) — Flash floods trigger evacuations in Arizona and Colorado amid heavy rains in southwest
- [St Catharines Standard](https://stcatharinesstandard.ca/life/flash-floods-trigger-evacuations-in-arizona-and-colorado-amid-heavy-rains-in-southwest/article_d145cc40-6b32-5356-ba71-80bdbb123b25.html) — Flash floods trigger evacuations in Arizona and Colorado amid heavy rains in southwest
- [NiagaraFallsReview.ca](https://niagarafallsreview.ca/life/flash-floods-trigger-evacuations-in-arizona-and-colorado-amid-heavy-rains-in-southwest/article_53490866-e705-58af-b2c8-256b75571e10.html) — Flash floods trigger evacuations in Arizona and Colorado amid heavy rains in southwest
- [Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer](https://messenger-inquirer.com/ap/ap_national_news/flash-floods-trigger-evacuations-in-arizona-and-colorado-amid-heavy-rains-in-southwest/article_223df948-ee47-59cb-951f-e8af0a9459e7.html) — Flash floods trigger evacuations in Arizona and Colorado amid heavy rains in southwest
- [Durango Herald](https://durangoherald.com/articles/associated-press/flash-floods-trigger-evacuations-in-arizona-and-colorado-amid-heavy-rains-in-southwest) — Flash floods trigger evacuations in Arizona and Colorado amid heavy rains in southwest

## Questions

**What is the forecast for the San Juan River?**

The San Juan River in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, was forecast to crest at more than 19 feet (5.8 meters) around 11:00 p.m. Sunday. This level is higher than the approximately 17.8 feet (5.4 meters) recorded during a devastating flood in 1911.

**What areas have evacuation orders?**

Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for residents in areas near Oak Creek in Sedona, Arizona, and for residents living near the Verde River and nearby creeks in Camp Verde, Arizona. Officials in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, also warned of potential catastrophic flooding.

**How much rain is expected?**

The National Weather Service estimated that up to 4 inches (10 cm) of rain could fall across the region. This rainfall is occurring in an area that is normally arid, with some meteorologists noting it is equivalent to two to three months' worth of rain in a few days.

**Which states are under flood watches?**

Flood watches have been issued for nearly all of Arizona, and parts of southern Utah, southwestern Colorado, western New Mexico, and southern Nevada. This includes the Four Corners region where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah meet.

---

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