Health & Safety
United States · Direct U.S. connection
Flood Warnings Issued for La Plata County, Colorado, Amid Regional Flood Emergency
Heavy rains led to a disaster declaration by Colorado Governor Jared Polis and local evacuation orders, as the National Weather Service warned of continued flooding in southwestern Colorado.
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THE PRIMARY BRIEF
- 01 · The primary finding
Flood warnings were issued and extended across La Plata County, Colorado, and surrounding areas on October 22 and 23, 2026, leading to a state disaster emergency declaration, river closures, and evacuation orders.
- 02 · The primary evidence
The NWS issued a Flood Warning for La Plata, CO, on October 23, 2026, at 3:59 PM MDT, which replaced an earlier warning and expired at 4:00 PM MDT. Earlier and extended flood warnings were active for La Plata and nearby counties on October 22 and 23. Colorado Governor Jared Polis verbally declared a disaster emergency for 11 counties, including La Plata, on Thursday night. The La Plata County sheriff closed the Animas River to watercraft on Friday. Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for flood-prone areas, and pre-evacuation orders for the Junction Creek Mobile Home Park. NWS meteorologist Kate Abbott stated the area was saturated from repeated rainfall events.
- 03 · Why it matters
The combination of persistent rainfall, multiple NWS warnings, a gubernatorial disaster declaration, and local emergency measures highlights a serious and ongoing flood threat in southwestern Colorado, affecting residents and requiring a coordinated response.
The National Weather Service (NWS) Grand Junction, Colorado, issued a Flood Warning for La Plata County on October 23, 2026, at 3:59 PM MDT. This warning was set to expire at 4:00 PM MDT and indicated it replaced a previous warning, advising to refer to a new Flood Warning for La Plata County. An earlier Flood Warning for southeastern La Plata County, caused by excessive rainfall and small stream flooding, was in effect until 4 AM MDT on October 23. This particular warning was an extension issued at 1:47 AM MDT on October 23. Separately, a Flood Warning for Archuleta, Hinsdale, and La Plata Counties was in effect until midnight MDT on Thursday, October 22, after being issued at 12:18 PM MDT that day. This warning was also extended until 4 AM MDT on October 23.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis verbally declared a disaster emergency on Thursday night due to flooding across much of southern Colorado. The declaration included La Plata, Archuleta, Montezuma, Dolores, Hinsdale, San Miguel, Ouray, San Juan, Mineral, Alamosa, and Rio Grande counties. Following this, the La Plata County sheriff closed the Animas River to all watercraft, including paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, and rafts, on Friday.
Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for residents in low-lying, flood-prone areas along the San Juan, Rio Blanco, Navajo, and Piedra Rivers. The La Plata County Sheriff's Office also issued a pre-evacuation order for residents of the Junction Creek Mobile Home Park.
Kate Abbott, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Grand Junction, Colorado, commented that recent rains increased the likelihood of widespread flooding. She noted that parts of the southwest, naturally prone to flash flooding, have little vegetation and rocky terrain. Abbott stated the area is "saturated and can't take too much more without flooding". She added that more rain was forecast through the weekend and described the situation as the "third or fourth round of this kind of moisture we've seen in as many weeks".
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