Floods force evacuations across the Four Corners
Heavy rain sent floodwaters through parts of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate. At least one person died.
Developing story. Details may change as more information is confirmed.
Unusually heavy rain sent floodwaters surging through parts of the American Southwest on Monday, forcing hundreds of people to leave their homes and keeping swift-water rescue teams busy.
The flooding hit the Four Corners region, where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah meet. Communities including Pagosa Springs and Durango in Colorado, Sedona in Arizona, Chama in New Mexico and Bluff in Utah were among those affected by evacuations or rising rivers. Some towns were dealing with water contaminated by sewage.
One person died in the flooding in Flagstaff, Arizona, and police said they suspected a second death was linked to the weather. The National Weather Service said up to 4 inches of rain could fall across the region through Monday. It is the second week of flooding in the area, which is usually dry, and earlier storms were also blamed for a death in New Mexico.
Forecasters have tied the unusual rain to El Niño, the periodic warming of Pacific Ocean waters that can shift weather patterns. The storm system was expected to move east on Election Day, and some local officials adjusted voting plans because of damaged roads and flooded areas.
Flood warnings remained in place in parts of the region, and officials urged residents not to drive through flooded roads. This is a developing story.
This summary is original reporting by tehworldnews, written after checking the facts against several major international news outlets and official statements.