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Receding floodwaters leave a sea of mud and shattered homes in the U.S. Southwest
After two rounds of heavy rain on already saturated ground, floods across the US Southwest left homes and businesses covered in mud and debris. Clearing skies and some rivers cresting below forecasts brought relief, but many communities still faced high water, evacuations and a long recovery.
An estimated 20 trillion gallons of rain fell across the Four Corners states and Nevada in two weeks. One person died, and authorities suspect a second death was weather-related; in New Mexico, at least 20,000 people were affected by evacuation orders. Flooding also disrupted voting in several states, including leaving some residents of the Navajo Nation unable to reach polling places.
In short
- Floods left mud and severe damage across the Southwest.
- More than 20 trillion gallons of rain fell in two weeks.
- Flooding disrupted evacuations and Election Day voting.
Explained simply
The Four Corners is the meeting area of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah, near the Navajo Nation, which spans parts of several states. In the US Southwest, dry periods can be followed by intense rain; when the ground is already saturated, it absorbs less water, so more rain flows into rivers and streets.
Floods can damage homes, roads and businesses, and cut off routes people rely on to reach safety or public services. The Navajo Nation is a sovereign tribal nation, and its communities can be far apart, making travel and access to polling places difficult when roads are flooded. Recovery can take time as water recedes and people clear mud and debris.