Flood warnings remained active across the Four Corners region on Monday, 26 October 2026, after days of heavy rain turned roads into rivers, forced evacuations and triggered rooftop rescues in parts of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah.
The Four Corners is the point where those four states meet, and the rain-soaked region has endured unusually heavy rain since Wednesday, 21 October. Some of the hardest-hit areas received up to five inches of rain since 21 October, according to the National Weather Service, and with more showers and thunderstorms moving through, forecasters issued a flood watch for much of the region.
As of 26 October, flood warnings remained active in south-central Colorado, central New Mexico and southeastern Utah, concentrated along riverbanks that could become dangerous as floodwaters move downstream. With soils already saturated, even a small amount of additional rain could push small creeks and streams over their banks.
Key Takeaways
- Flood warnings stayed active on 26 October across south-central Colorado, central New Mexico and southeastern Utah after days of heavy rain.
- Rescuers carried out rooftop and overnight water rescues around Farmington and Shiprock, while evacuations were under way in southeastern Utah.
- Officials warned residents to stay away from floodwaters and flooded roads, as more rain could quickly push creeks and streams over their banks.
Days of Rain, Then a Tornado in Santa Fe
The storms brought more than rain. A tornado touched down in Santa Fe, New Mexico, at around 7 p.m. on Saturday, 24 October, and forecasters were still trying to confirm whether twisters had also struck elsewhere in the state. In Santa Fe, residents spent Sunday clearing downed trees from roofs and surveying damaged homes after the tornado struck central parts of the city on Saturday night.
Across the wider region, the pattern was the same: swollen rivers, flooded homes and roads cut off by fast-moving water. Roads turned to rivers in parts of Colorado, Utah and Arizona, and authorities opened emergency shelters and called on residents in low-lying areas to evacuate.
The National Weather Service office in Pueblo, Colorado, repeated its blunt safety warning for drivers: turn around, do not drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles, the office warned, and motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas.
With soils already saturated, even a small amount of additional rain could push small creeks and streams over their banks.
Rooftop Rescues and Evacuations
The rescue effort stretched across state and tribal lines. In northwestern New Mexico, Navajo police reported that responders had conducted 20 overnight rescue operations, some involving multiple people, with efforts focused on Farmington and west toward Shiprock.
In New Mexico’s San Juan County, the state’s National Guard conducted at least 11 hoist operations using helicopters, officials said, and residents could be seen stranded on their rooftops while their homes were inundated by floodwaters. In the Farmington area, local officials said swollen rivers were receding but many people remained evacuated and hundreds were without power.
San Juan County did not have official figures on the number of homes damaged or how many people were evacuated, but officials were not aware of any deaths, a county spokesperson told The Associated Press. About four feet of water flooded the home of county Sheriff Shane Ferrari, who said the area’s situation was stable on Sunday but that he and other residents were trying to clean up and deal with damage.
In southeastern Utah, Navajo emergency management personnel were working to evacuate residents in Bluff, Montezuma Creek and Aneth. The U.S. 160 bridge over the San Juan River near the Arizona-Colorado border remained closed to traffic on 25 October, the Navajo Police Department said, and the Montezuma Creek Bridge was also closed.
The storms also inundated communities across northern Arizona. In Lower Moencopi, a Hopi village near Tuba City, flooding displaced as many as 10 families, and some residents fled with only the clothes they were wearing, a fellow resident told the Arizona Republic.
- Up to five inches of rain fell in the hardest-hit areas since 21 October.
- Navajo police reported 20 overnight rescue operations around Farmington and toward Shiprock.
- New Mexico’s National Guard carried out at least 11 helicopter hoist operations in San Juan County.
- Evacuations were under way in Bluff, Montezuma Creek and Aneth in southeastern Utah.
- Hundreds remained without power around Farmington, with many people still evacuated.
A Wastewater Warning in Shiprock
The flooding also disrupted essential services. The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority said on 25 October that flooding had disrupted Shiprock’s wastewater treatment plant and that untreated wastewater was being discharged into the San Juan River to prevent sewage from backing up into homes and businesses.
The utility said its water supply runs on a separate system, was unaffected by the flooding and remained safe to use. It urged Shiprock sewer customers to use less water to reduce sewage flowing into the river, recommending putting off laundry, taking shorter showers and using dishwashers less often.
The authority also urged people to avoid the San Juan River and floodwaters in the affected area and to keep children, pets and livestock away, warning that the water could contain pathogens and other contaminants. Officials in San Juan County likewise urged patience and caution, warning that water could be contaminated with chemicals and raw sewage and that gas and propane lines could be broken.
As with other severe storms that knock out power and cut off roads, the immediate danger is not only the water itself but what it leaves behind: downed power lines, damaged homes, closed bridges and hazards hidden in receding floodwaters. Crews in New Mexico spent Sunday scouring evacuated neighborhoods for dead animals, downed power lines and other hazards left behind by the receding water.
What to Watch Next
The next question for the Four Corners is whether the additional showers and thunderstorms in the forecast bring a new round of flooding to ground that is already saturated. Flood warnings remained active on 26 October in south-central Colorado, central New Mexico and southeastern Utah, and a flood watch covered much of the region, so even a small amount of further rain could push small creeks and streams over their banks.
Residents in low-lying areas should watch for evacuation updates and stay away from flooded roads and riverbanks, especially where floodwaters are still moving downstream. For households preparing for disruption, the same basics apply as in any emergency supplies guidance: bottled water, non-perishable food, a torch, a radio and cash, and a plan for what to do if power goes out or roads close.
Officials have not yet released official figures for homes damaged or people evacuated in San Juan County, and damage assessments are still under way. Until those counts are published and the closed bridges reopen, the picture will remain one of clean-up, caution and waiting for the rivers to fall.