The National Weather Service office in Pueblo, Colorado issued a Flood Warning on October 26 at 5:15 PM MDT, in effect until 1:15 AM MDT on October 27. The warning currently covers 11 areas, including Conejos and Alamosa counties in Colorado’s San Luis Valley, Socorro and Rio Arriba counties in New Mexico, San Juan and Kane counties in Utah, Presidio County in far west Texas, and Lake and Volusia counties in Florida.
A Flood Warning means flooding is either occurring now or is imminent – this is a step above a Flood Watch, which only means conditions are favorable. If you live in one of the listed counties, you may notice water pooling on roadways, small streams and arroyos running high, and low-lying areas filling with standing water. In the desert Southwest especially, dry washes and arroyos can turn into fast-moving channels with little warning, even if it isn’t raining hard where you are – the water may be coming from storms upstream.
Because this warning runs through the overnight hours, the main risk is encountering flooded roads in the dark, when water depth is nearly impossible to judge. Just six inches of moving water can knock down an adult, and twelve inches can carry away a small car.
What to keep in mind tonight
Never drive through flooded roads. Turn around and find another route – most flood deaths happen in vehicles. Avoid walking near arroyos, ditches, and creek beds in New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah, where flash flooding can arrive downstream of distant storms. Keep your phone charged and alerts enabled so you receive any updated warnings overnight, and move vehicles and valuables out of low-lying spots if your area is prone to street flooding.
This warning is expected to expire at 1:15 AM MDT on October 27, though it could be extended or replaced if heavy rain continues.
Data in this alert comes from the National Weather Service (NWS Pueblo, CO).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is flooding happening right now, or is it just possible?
A Flood Warning (unlike a watch) means flooding is occurring or imminent in at least parts of the warned areas. The warning is active from 5:15 PM MDT October 26 until 1:15 AM MDT October 27.
What should I do right now if I'm in one of the warned counties?
Avoid driving on flooded or water-covered roads, stay away from arroyos and creek beds, and keep weather alerts enabled on your phone overnight. If water rises around your home, move to higher ground inside or above the lowest floor.
Is it safe to drive through just a few inches of water on the road?
No – six inches of moving water can knock a person down, and about a foot of water can float and carry away many vehicles. Water depth and road damage underneath are nearly impossible to judge at night, so turn around instead.
Why are counties in Florida and Texas included in a warning from a Colorado office?
The warning product aggregates multiple areas affected by the same weather system and related alerts across the region. Each county's local conditions are handled by its own NWS forecast office, so check your local office's statements for details specific to your area.
Keep tracking this:
Source: National Weather Service (NWS)
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Sky & Solar Conditions at the Time
Moon: Full Moon (100% illuminated), in Aries.
Notable planetary angles: Moon trine Jupiter (118°), Sun conjunct Venus (2°), Mercury square Jupiter (87°).
Concurrent space weather: planetary Kp index 0.7; strongest recent solar flare: nothing notable.
This is a factual snapshot, not a claim of cause and effect – researchers are divided on whether lunar, planetary or solar factors influence seismic or weather activity. It’s included so readers can track the pattern for themselves over time.
