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Flood Watch Issued for Purgatoire River Near Las Animas, Colorado
The National Weather Service in Pueblo has issued a Flood Watch for the Purgatoire River, impacting the Las Animas Vicinity and Bent County, Colorado, with potential flooding expected from Monday evening until Wednesday afternoon due to high river flow.
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THE PRIMARY BRIEF
- 01 · The primary finding
The National Weather Service in Pueblo issued a Flood Watch for the Purgatoire River near Las Animas, Colorado, effective from Monday evening, October 26, to Wednesday afternoon, October 28, 2026, due to potential flooding from recent rains.
- 02 · The primary evidence
The Flood Watch was issued on October 26, 2026, at 11:53 AM MDT, covering the Purgatoire River near Las Animas and Bent County. It is active from Monday evening until Wednesday afternoon, October 28, at 5:00 PM MDT. The NWS cited high flow from recent rains as the cause, with flooding possible near Las Animas. The flood stage is 9.0 feet, and the river's stage was 2.5 feet at 11:15 AM MDT on Monday, with forecasts indicating it could reach flood stage late Monday evening. River data from October 24, 2026, showed a gage height of 2.48 feet, and on October 25, 2026, it was 2.59 feet.
- 03 · Why it matters
This Flood Watch indicates an increased risk of flooding for communities along the Purgatoire River in Bent County, Colorado, necessitating awareness and precautionary measures from residents and travelers.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Pueblo, Colorado, has issued a Flood Watch for the Purgatoire River near Las Animas, affecting the Las Animas Vicinity and Bent County zone. The alert was released on Monday, October 26, 2026, at 11:53 AM MDT. This Flood Watch is in effect from Monday evening, October 26, until Wednesday afternoon, October 28, at 5:00 PM MDT.
The NWS stated that high flow is currently moving down the Upper Purgatoire River, a result of recent rainfall. This elevated flow may lead to flooding in areas near Las Animas. As of 11:15 AM MDT on Monday, the river stage on the Purgatoire River near Las Animas was recorded at 2.5 feet. The flood stage for this location is 9.0 feet. Forecasts indicate that the river could reach flood stage late Monday evening.
River data from October 24, 2026, showed the Purgatoire River near Las Animas with a gage height of 2.48 feet and a flow of 12 cubic feet per second (cfs). By October 25, 2026, the gage height was recorded at 2.59 feet. These levels are significantly below the 9.0-foot flood stage. Earlier, on October 20, 2026, no watches, warnings, or advisories were reported for this area. However, a Hazardous Weather Outlook issued by NWS Pueblo on October 24, 2026, mentioned an emphasis on Flood Watch conditions for locations including the Las Animas Vicinity and Bent County.
In response to current flood warnings and watches across southwest and south-central Colorado, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has advised motorists to avoid travel. CDOT urged drivers not to travel through flooded areas and to never drive through closure gates or barricades.
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