Pagosa Springs orders evacuation before river crest

Residents in low-lying parts of Pagosa Springs are being told to leave immediately as the San Juan River approaches a historic peak. The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for the area that remains active through Monday evening. The agency attached a "Particularly Dangerous Situation" tag to the alert, a designation used for severe and impactful flooding.

Forecasters predict the river will crest at 19.71 feet around 11 p.m. on Sunday. That level stands nearly two feet above the 17.8-foot high water mark recorded during the 1911 flood. That earlier event destroyed most of the town that existed at the time.

The emergency message instructs anyone within the evacuation zone to depart without waiting for additional warnings. The zone covers low-lying areas along the San Juan, Rio Blanco, Navajo, and Piedra rivers. Officials noted that search and rescue capabilities will be limited during the storm's peak. Helicopters are expected to remain grounded, and first responders may not reach trapped individuals until conditions improve.

Crews are moving resources to high-risk spots to prepare for the event. The Colorado National Guard is bringing in additional ground search and rescue teams and equipment. Air support and specialized rescue units are also en route. These resources are scheduled to arrive on Sunday and stand ready as weather permits.

Highway 160 will close to all traffic entering Pagosa Springs at 4 p.m. on Sunday. The closure aims to reduce congestion in town, though vehicles leaving the area will still be allowed to pass. Specific closure points will be announced later that day. People with medical needs or those relying on electric medical equipment are advised to move to a safe location now.

Open Door Church at 110 Trinity Lane is serving as an evacuation shelter. Small animals can be brought to the Humane Society at 463 Cloman Boulevard. Large animals are being housed at the Archuleta County Fairgrounds at 344 Highway 84. Residents can call 970-731-2160 for evacuation assistance or 970-508-9928 for county incident updates between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.