San Juan County warns of 'historic' flooding as roads wash out, with more rain due Monday

San Juan County officials told residents in the flood warning area not to travel Sunday evening or overnight, citing "significant and historic flooding." They said some local roads had flooded, washed out or "collapsed completely," and called it a "particularly dangerous situation." ^[1][2][3]

The National Weather Service flood warning covers southern San Juan County, including Bluff, Blanding, Mexican Hat, Aneth, Montezuma Creek and White Mesa, plus parts of five southwest Colorado counties. It runs through 4:15 p.m. Monday. As of about 4 p.m. Sunday, 1.5 to 3 inches of rain had fallen in the area, and widespread rain was expected to continue through Monday. ^[1][2]

Monticello officials said the Mill Site and Loyd's Lake will stay closed until further notice. ^[2] Elsewhere in southern Utah, flooding closed Old Highway 91 at Ash Creek Reservoir in New Harmony, and rockfalls briefly closed Kolob Canyon Scenic Drive in Zion National Park and one lane of SR-9 west of Rockville. Flood warnings were also in place for parts of Garfield, Kane and Washington counties. ^[3]

It is the second Sunday in a row that rain has swelled the San Juan River. Bluff Mayor Josh Ewing told the Tribune that about 20 families and business owners in and near Bluff had damage to their homes and businesses after last weekend's flooding. ^[1]