NewsWPLG Local 10October 25, 2026Miami-Dade County
Heavy rains and tornado bring renewed flooding and property damage to the Southwest U.S. Four Corners region
Photo: WPLG Local 10
Heavy rain and tornadoes caused severe flooding, property damage, and evacuations across the Four Corners region of the Southwest, prompting New Mexico officials to request a presidential emergency declaration. Emergency crews are currently inspecting evacuated neighborhoods for safety hazards as additional thunderstorms threaten the saturated area.
Read the full story at WPLG Local 10Why It Matters
Residents face ongoing evacuations, property destruction, power outages, and potential contamination of water supplies by sewage and chemicals.
Key Facts
- A flood watch was issued by the National Weather Service for much of the Four Corners region spanning Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah.
- A tornado touched down in Santa Fe, New Mexico, around 7 p.m. Saturday.
- San Juan County Sheriff Shane Ferrari's home was flooded with about 4 feet of water.
- Wastewater facilities and water holding ponds in the Shiprock area of the Navajo Nation were damaged, causing sewage releases into the San Juan River.
- New Mexico's congressional delegation urged President Donald Trump to declare an emergency to release federal assistance funding.
- Meteorologists attribute the heavy rainfall to tropical moisture coming ashore from the Pacific and El Niño conditions.
- Hundreds of residents remain evacuated and without power in the Farmington and San Juan County areas.
Who's Mentioned
locationUtah“State meeting at the Four Corners region.”locationAldea de Santa Fe“Neighborhood where a tornado was spotted.”locationNavajo Nation“Location of Shiprock area.”PersonAnthony Brown“Lead meteorologist at the weather service office in Santa Teresa, New Mexico.”locationGrand Junction“Location of weather service office.”locationSanta Fe“Location where a tornado touched down.”PersonCory Tanner“Undersheriff checking houses for hazards.”locationAlbuquerque“Location of weather service office.”PersonWilfred Franklin Jr.“Navajo Tribal Utility Authority Shiprock District Manager.”locationShiprock“Area in New Mexico affected by wastewater facility damage.”PersonDevin Neeley“Spokesperson for San Juan County.”locationSan Juan River“River receiving sewage releases from damaged wastewater facilities.”PersonShane Ferrari“County Sheriff whose home flooded.”locationFour Corners region“Meeting point of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah under a flood watch.”locationSanta Teresa“Location of weather service office.”OrganizationNavajo Tribal Utility Authority“Utility authority in Shiprock.”PersonDavid Vega“San Juan County Fire & Rescue Chief.”locationColorado“State meeting at the Four Corners region.”locationGrand Canyon“Site of previous deadly flooding.”locationLos Angeles“City where writer is located.”locationArizona“State meeting at the Four Corners region.”OrganizationNational Weather Service“Issued a flood watch for much of the Four Corners region.”locationNew Mexico“State where crews scoured evacuated neighborhoods.”locationTexas“State where writer is located.”PersonAnna Wilder“Associated Press writer in Austin, Texas.”locationLos Alamos“Location faced by resident's patio.”locationFarmington“Area in New Mexico where swollen rivers were receding.”locationAustin“City where writer is located.”PersonDonald Trump“President urged to declare an emergency for New Mexico.”locationSan Juan County“County in New Mexico with hard-hit flood areas.”OrganizationThe Associated Press“News agency.”PersonKris Sanders“Meteorologist at the weather service office in Grand Junction, Colorado.”PersonScott Overpeck“Meteorologist with the weather service in Albuquerque.”PersonMichelle Vialpando“Resident who spotted a tornado from her patio.”PersonChristopher Weber“Associated Press writer in Los Angeles.”locationSouthwest U.S.“Region enduring flooding.”