Heavy rains that began Tuesday triggered flash floods in the Southwest, prompting U.S. officials to order residents in Sedona, Arizona, and Pagosa Springs, Colorado, to evacuate. The Verde River overflowed in Sedona, and the Green River rose in Pagosa Springs, flooding streets, closing roads and leaving many without shelter.
According to the Associated Press, at least 20 people in Sedona were displaced overnight, while the Colorado Department of Transportation said about 1,200 residents were moved from the Green River town. The Army Corps of Engineers sent emergency crews to both locations, and local officials urged people to stay away from riverbanks and low‑lying areas until the water receded.
Roads closed by the flooding cut off key routes, and rescue efforts are ongoing in both states. Officials warned that the storm "may continue" and urged residents not to drive or cross high‑water roadways.
Meteorologists cited the El Niño cycle and a weak high‑pressure ridge over the Great Basin as contributing factors. Scientists warned that such flash floods could become more common as climate change intensifies extreme weather events in the region.
Only the Associated Press reported the specific displacement numbers for Sedona and Pagosa Springs; no other outlet in the sources provided those figures.