Overview
- Archuleta County has issued mandatory evacuations for low-lying, flood-prone areas along the San Juan, Rio Blanco, Navajo and Piedra rivers because officials say river levels are rising and swift-water conditions are unsafe.
- County crews have pre-filled sandbags with a state-provided sandbagging machine and are distributing free sand and bags at the Archuleta County Building and the Tara Community Center in Arboles for residents who need protection.
- The Colorado Department of Transportation closed CO 151 south of the US 160 junction due to flooding and advised drivers to use CO 172 via Ignacio while warning that more roads could become impassable from washouts or submerged sections.
- Forecasters expect several inches of rain and warm temperatures that could trigger high‑country snowmelt, and officials say those combined factors are likely to push the San Juan watershed to a peak in the coming day.
- Local authorities say they have identified a shelter, contacted residents affected by last year’s floods, are monitoring upstream snowmelt and weather, and will post updates on the sheriff’s Facebook page and through a public call center for evacuees.