Published on : 03 Nov 2026
A storm that has dropped months’ worth of rain in a couple of days has flooded northern and central Arizona and the Four Corners, forcing evacuations in at least a dozen counties across Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico — and closing roads on one of the most popular tourist routes in the American Southwest.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs declared a statewide state of emergency on Monday, November 2, as more than 10 rivers, creeks and washes in Arizona and southwest Colorado surged past major flood stage, with several setting new record crests. In Sedona, Oak Creek forced evacuations, and crews used boats and helicopters to rescue about 40 people from their homes. State Route 89A through Oak Creek Canyon is closed after floodwaters pushed boulders and debris onto the road and washed out sections of pavement.
The rain has now ended across much of the Southwest, but flooding along some rivers is expected to last through at least Tuesday, and there is no timetable for fully restoring the roads. Here is what travellers need to know.
Published: November 3, 2026 — Tuesday Where: Northern and central Arizona, southwest Colorado, northwest New Mexico and southern Utah Declared: Statewide emergency in Arizona on November 2; the disaster touches at least seven counties and five tribal nations Sedona: Mandatory “GO” evacuations for zones 8, 9 and 10 along Oak Creek; about 40 people rescued by boat and helicopter Closed roads (as of Monday night): SR 89A between Sedona and Kachina Village; sections of I-40 around Flagstaff and further east; SR 87 near Winslow; US 191 at Rock Point; SR 288 Reopened: I-17 in both directions Grand Canyon National Park: No park-wide closure announced in the sources I checked; roads to the park may be affected Records: The San Juan River in New Mexico topped a 117-year water-level record; Colorado’s Animas River at Durango rose from about 1,500 to 13,000 cubic feet per second in a day Casualties: Deaths reported in Flagstaff floodwaters; reports differ on the number Official road information: AZ511 (call 511 in Arizona) and Colorado’s COtrip
| Road | Status (per reports Nov 1–3) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SR 89A, Sedona to Kachina Village (Oak Creek Canyon) | Closed both ways (mileposts 375–397) | Boulders, debris and washed-out pavement; damaged guardrails; no reopening estimate |
| SR 179, Sedona | Closed for part of the weekend | Affects access to Sedona from the south; check AZ511 |
| I-17, Phoenix–Flagstaff | Reopened both ways | Had hours-long closures near Sedona’s exit and the Flagstaff airport |
| I-40 around Flagstaff and east | Sections closed due to flooding | National Weather Service alerts on Nov 2 listed closures including mileposts 191–203, 254–258 and 261–269 |
| Flagstaff city streets | Several closed | Including Route 66, S. Milton Road, Butler Avenue, E. Huntington Drive and S. Lone Tree Road |
| SR 87 near Winslow | Closed in places | Mileposts 344–346 and 398–400 |
| US 191 at Rock Point | Closed | Northeastern Arizona |
| SR 288 and SR 73 | Closed in stretches | Eastern and central Arizona |
| SR 238, Maricopa to Gila Bend | Closed | Southwest of Phoenix |
Closures change quickly. Check AZ511 before every leg of a drive.
| Area | What’s Happening |
|---|---|
| Sedona | Oak Creek flooding, mandatory evacuations, rescues, and two sewage overflows into the creek, so avoid contact with floodwater |
| Camp Verde and Cottonwood | Verde River flooding; more than 100 homes in Camp Verde were underwater on Sunday night |
| Flagstaff | Deadly flooding; multiple road closures |
| Winslow | Little Colorado River at record flooding |
| Safford and Thatcher | Gila River more than 2 feet above the level that floods homes and businesses |
| Durango, Colorado | Animas River surging; riverside evacuations |
| New Mexico | San Juan River at a 117-year record; Rio Chama flood warning in Rio Arriba County |
| Las Vegas and Henderson | Flash flooding also reported |
| If You’re… | What to Know |
|---|---|
| Driving Phoenix–Sedona–Flagstaff–Grand Canyon | SR 89A is closed and I-40 sections are shut; allow extra time and check AZ511 before each leg |
| Staying in Sedona | Follow the city’s evacuation orders; some areas remain affected and roads in and out can change quickly |
| Heading to the Grand Canyon | No park-wide closure was announced, but road access to the park could be disrupted; check the National Park Service website |
| Flying into Phoenix or Flagstaff | No widespread airline disruption was reported in the sources I checked, but check your airline app; the Flagstaff airport area saw hours-long road closures |
| On a road trip into Colorado, New Mexico or Utah | Check COtrip, New Mexico and Utah road conditions; riverside areas around Durango may be evacuated |
| With a rental car | Do not drive through floodwater; rental agreements typically do not cover flood damage from driving into water, so check your policy |
| With travel insurance | Check cover for natural-disaster disruption and keep receipts for extra hotel nights and transport |
Contact your country’s consular service if you need help: the UK Foreign Office, Global Affairs Canada, or Australia’s DFAT through Smartraveller. Keep your passport, travel documents and insurance details with you, and tell family where you are.
The storm has moved east, bringing severe weather and heavy rain across the Plains and the central US on Election Day, but some Southwest rivers may stay in flood through Tuesday and beyond. Highway crews still have to assess damage, especially on SR 89A. We’ll update this article as roads reopen and as the National Park Service and state agencies publish more information.
Posted By : Vinay
This article is provided for general informational purposes only and is based on information available at the time of publication. Travel advisories, airline schedules, airport operations, visa requirements, government regulations, and other travel-related information are subject to change without prior notice. While Travel Tourister makes reasonable efforts to verify information using official announcements, government publications, airline and airport communications, and other reliable sources, we cannot guarantee that all information remains complete, accurate, or up to date at all times. Readers should independently verify any information that may affect their travel plans with the relevant airline, airport authority, government agency, embassy, or other official source before making travel, financial, or other decisions. Travel Tourister shall not be liable for any direct or indirect loss, inconvenience, or damages arising from the use of or reliance on the information contained in this article. Nothing in this publication constitutes legal, immigration, financial, or professional travel advice. If you believe any information in this article is inaccurate or outdated, please contact our editorial team. We review all credible correction requests promptly and update our content whenever appropriate.
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