Water surges into Navajo Reservoir

Back-to-back extreme rain events inundated the Four Corners region of the U.S. Southwest in late October and early November 2026. The storms caused river levels to spike to record or near-record levels in places and triggered damaging floods.

NASA said satellite images showed water levels in Navajo Reservoir rising sharply between September 20 and November 7. The lake in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado rose by nearly 60 feet (18 meters), according to data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

On November 7, the reservoir stood at its highest level since August 2019 and at 108 percent of the average capacity for that date. It held 60 percent of its average capacity on September 20. The Bureau of Reclamation had decreased releases from Navajo Dam on September 16 and 17.

Pagosa Springs, Colorado, was especially hard-hit by flooding. In one round of rain, 5.05 inches (12.8 centimeters) fell in the town. On October 23, the San Juan River reached major flood stage. It spiked again on November 1, nearly reaching the record level set in 1911. Officials issued evacuation orders, and responders rescued dozens of people.

Heavy rain and flooding spread across southwest Colorado, southeast Utah, northern Arizona, and northwest New Mexico. From early September through early November, precipitation totals were 2 to 4 times the average throughout the Four Corners region. NASA said the storms provided drought relief. The U.S. Drought Monitor’s November 3 summary said short-term drought had ended for the Southwest and Great Basin, while long-term drought persisted in places.

NASA said wet weather in the Southwest was associated with El Niño. Experts said the low-pressure system that delivered the heavy rainfall in autumn 2026 was at a low latitude for the time of year and drew energy from unusually high ocean temperatures.