San Juan River forecast to hit 19.71 feet in Pagosa Springs

The Town of Pagosa Springs ordered residents in specific zones to leave immediately on Sunday as the San Juan River approached a dangerous level. Officials directed people in low-lying areas to depart at once due to the threat of catastrophic flooding.

Forecasters predict the river will crest at 19.71 feet around 11 p.m. Sunday. This projected height carries the potential for severe flooding across Pagosa Springs and surrounding areas. The order affects neighborhoods along the San Juan, Rio Blanco, Navajo, and Piedra rivers.

The town is coordinating the response with Archuleta County and emergency partners. Highway 160 will close to traffic entering the town starting at 4 p.m. on Sunday. Officials will allow outgoing evacuation traffic while announcing specific closure locations to guide residents out.

Two shelters are available for displaced residents. Open Door Church at 110 Trinity Lane in Pagosa Springs is serving as the main evacuation shelter. For animals, the Humane Society at 465 Cloman Blvd. is taking in small pets, while the Archuleta County Fairgrounds at 344 Hwy 84 is accepting large animals.

Residents needing assistance can call 970-731-2160. The County Incident Call Center is staffed from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and can be reached at 970-508-9928. Further west, severe flooding remains possible in the Four Corners region, which could prompt additional evacuations there.