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# NWS Forecasts Record 23-Foot San Juan Crest at Shiprock
- URL: https://www.theamericanquorum.com/shiprock-record-23-foot-san-juan-flood-crest/
- Published: 2026-10-24T18:38:38.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T18:38:38.000Z
- Description: The National Weather Service says catastrophic flooding is underway at Shiprock, where the San Juan River stood at 21.2 feet and was forecast to reach a record 23 feet, forcing evacuations and rescues across the Navajo Nation community.
- Author: News Desk
- Tags: Breaking News, New Mexico

The National Weather Service says catastrophic flooding is underway at Shiprock, where the San Juan River stood at 21.2 feet early Saturday and was forecast to rise to 23 feet during the afternoon—the highest stage on record at the gauge.

The agency’s [flood statement](https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?firewxzone=NMZ101&lat=36.792&local%5Fplace1=Shiprock+NM&lon=-108.696&product1=Flood+Advisory&warncounty=NMC045&warnzone=NMZ201&ref=theamericanquorum.com), issued at 11:45 a.m. Mountain time, said major flooding was occurring and would continue through Saturday. The forecast crest is nearly 7.5 feet above the 15.5-foot flood stage. The river was expected to remain above flood stage through Sunday afternoon, and the warning was extended until late Sunday night.

The new projection marks a sharp escalation downstream from [TAQ’s report](https://www.theamericanquorum.com/san-juan-river-four-corners-flood-rescues-evacuations/) Friday, which centered on the record crest at Farmington and evacuations across the Four Corners. At Shiprock, the river had reached 17.3 feet Friday night and was then expected to crest near 20.7 feet, according to the [Navajo Times](https://navajotimes.com/reznews/floods-strand-families-force-rescues-as-san-juan-river-nears-major-flood-stage/?ref=theamericanquorum.com). Saturday’s federal forecast put the crest more than two feet higher.

## Rescues and closures spread in Shiprock

Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said residents had been stranded on rooftops and others needed evacuation assistance in the Shiprock area, [KOAT reported](https://www.koat.com/article/navajo-nation-shiprock-san-juan-river-flood/74237618?ref=theamericanquorum.com). The Shiprock, Bisti and Nenahnezad bridges were closed, cutting several routes across the river. A shelter threatened by rising water was closed and its occupants were moved to another location near Shiprock.

San Juan County crews completed 20 rescues Friday night and Saturday morning, many involving more than one person, while multiple operations remained underway, according to a separate [KOAT update](https://www.koat.com/article/historic-san-juan-river-flood-new-mexico/74237697?ref=theamericanquorum.com). Power was out for many people south of the river in Shiprock. The [Albuquerque Journal](https://www.abqjournal.com/news/it-really-is-this-bad-flooding-triggers-evacuations-rescues-across-san-juan-county/3148013?ref=theamericanquorum.com) had also documented road damage and outages around Shiprock as the broader San Juan County emergency expanded Friday.

The surge moved downstream after two days of flooding that forced hundreds of evacuations around Farmington and Bloomfield. Rescuers used boats, helicopters and amphibious vehicles to reach people trapped in homes and on rooftops, the [Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/extreme-weather-flooding-rescues-new-mexico-colorado-8ced1bb2e1ae213c3b0a5cf4eb72d166?ref=theamericanquorum.com) reported. Navajo Nation Deputy Police Chief Donnie Kee had urged residents near the river not to delay evacuating themselves, their families and their animals.

The river emergency followed roughly four inches of rain since Wednesday on ground already saturated by two months of wet weather, according to the AP. Heavy rain in the rivers’ southern Colorado headwaters swelled both the San Juan and Animas before they crossed into northwestern New Mexico, [Source NM](https://sourcenm.com/2026/10/23/a-terrible-crisis-san-juan-county-officials-describe-widespread-flooding-impacts/?ref=theamericanquorum.com) reported. That upstream runoff explains why conditions at Shiprock continued worsening after rain had eased in parts of the county.

## What remains uncertain

Officials had not published a complete current count of damaged homes, displaced residents or injuries in the Shiprock area by early Saturday afternoon. The 23-foot figure is a forecast rather than a confirmed observation; the last stage cited in the federal statement was 21.2 feet at 4 a.m. Mountain time. The next National Weather Service statement was scheduled for around midnight.

The immediate hazard will remain even after the river crests because the forecast keeps Shiprock above flood stage into Sunday. The Weather Service warned motorists not to drive around barricades or through floodwater and urged people to stay away from riverbanks. Residents in evacuation zones should follow Navajo Nation, tribal police and San Juan County instructions rather than rely on the apparent condition of a road or bridge.