Extreme Weather Arizona Southwest Flooding
Members of the Tucson Fire Department's Technical Rescue Team pull a woman from her car after it became stuck in a flooded wash in Tucson, Ariz., Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026.
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A chaotic climate phenomenon called El Niño is intensifying heavy rains and floods in the Southwest. Experts say the natural warming cycle is sizzling Pacific Ocean waters and leaking moisture into the air that can fuel passing storms. The phenomenon wasn’t the only cause, but scientists say it’s making heavy rains more likely and intense across the Southern U.S. Flash floods on Sunday prompted evacuations across northern New Mexico and central Arizona, and a Colorado ski town braced for its main river to rise to catastrophic levels. To stay safe, experts recommended watching the forecast, planning ahead and heeding evacuation warnings.
