San Juan River nears 1911 record as Pagosa Springs floods again

The San Juan River in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, rose to its second-highest level in more than a century on Sunday night as a second storm in about a week left some 1,000 homes under evacuation orders. In New Mexico, the Rio Chama flooded parts of the town of Chama.

A second major storm in about a week sent rivers in southwestern Colorado surging to near-record levels on Sunday, as officials in Pagosa Springs warned of potentially catastrophic flooding and ordered residents out of low-lying areas.

The San Juan River at Pagosa Springs reached 16.8 feet at 8 p.m. Sunday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey gauge, more than 4 feet above major flood stage and second only to the 17.8 feet recorded on Oct. 5, 1911, when floodwaters wiped out much of the town. That was higher than the river's peak of about 15 feet in the flood of Oct. 23. The gauge then showed the river falling before it stopped reporting. Forecasters had warned the river could crest above 20 feet. The Piedra River near Arboles set a new record.

National Weather Service briefing on the flooding threat in Pagosa Springs

About 1,000 homes are under mandatory evacuation orders in Archuleta County, many of which were also evacuated during last week's storm, Sheriff Mike Le Roux said. The town was closed to incoming traffic, and the sheriff's office warned that downtown bridges damaged last week could be further compromised and that sewage was flowing into the river. Residents unable to leave were asked to shelter in place, and an evacuation shelter opened at the Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association clubhouse.

At the state's request, South Metro Fire Rescue sent an eight-person swift-water rescue team from the Denver area to Archuleta County. Officials warned that rescues could become difficult during the worst of the storm, when helicopters may be grounded.

In northern New Mexico, the Rio Chama flooded parts of the town of Chama on Sunday evening, spilling into properties and over a road near an RV park, and evacuations were under way with closures on U.S. Highway 64, the National Weather Service said. River flooding was expected to continue through Tuesday across parts of central and western New Mexico.