Severe flooding in the Southwest's Four Corners region has triggered widespread evacuations and multiple dramatic rescues as rivers surged to record or near-record levels.

Storms dumped heavy rain on already saturated ground from Wednesday through the weekend, sending the San Juan River and other waterways over their banks. In Colorado, the river at Pagosa Springs reached its third-highest flow on record. Downstream in New Mexico, the San Juan at Farmington hit its highest stage ever recorded.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis declared a disaster emergency for 12 counties in the southwest part of the state. Mandatory evacuations were ordered along several rivers, including areas around Pagosa Springs and South Fork. The Rio Grande County Sheriff's Office reported 80 to 100 homes evacuated, with orders still in place late Saturday.

Rescue crews responded to numerous calls. A Colorado National Guard helicopter crew lifted two people and five pets from an overturned RV near the Rio Blanco River on Friday. In New Mexico's San Juan County, responders used boats, helicopters and amphibious vehicles to conduct hundreds of water rescues, pulling people from rooftops and flooded homes with up to four feet of water inside.

Arizona saw at least one notable rescue near Sedona, where four people were hoisted from the roof of their SUV by helicopter. El Paso, Texas, also reported flooding that led to 16 homes evacuated and a vehicle water rescue, though no injuries occurred there.

A possible tornado touched down in Santa Fe, New Mexico, adding to the damage. Officials warned residents to stay out of floodwaters due to contamination risks and noted that some roads remain impassable. Cleanup efforts are underway in several areas as waters slowly recede, though additional showers remain possible.