Flood risks remain in Southwest after storms drop 20 trillion gallons of water

PBS NewsHour reported that over 20 trillion gallons of water fell on the Four Corners states and Nevada in the past two weeks, causing widespread flooding in the U.S. Southwest.

The flooding prompted hundreds of evacuations and kept swift-water rescue teams busy, with at least one confirmed death and a suspected second weather-related fatality.

The National Weather Service noted that isolated cloudbursts remain possible in the Four Corners area, where New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah meet, due to El Niño disrupting weather patterns.

Pagosa Springs, Colorado, experienced significant damage as the San Juan River reached 16.81 feet, flooding downtown streets and nearly reaching a historic flood level from 1911.

An entire home was swept off its foundation and a road bridge west of Pagosa Springs partially collapsed under the floodwaters, according to local officials.

Rescue efforts continue with first responders searching for people possibly stranded, while some bridges and roadways have reopened but evacuation orders remain in place.

Officials expect cleanup and repair efforts to take weeks as the region recovers from the destructive storms.