Catastrophic flash floods swamp the US Southwest, forcing thousands to evacuate as dangerous conditions grip the region

Flash floods branded 'catastrophic' by weather forecasters struck communities throughout Arizona, Colorado and surrounding states, prompting the National Weather Service to issue warnings across a vast swath of the Southwest. Rescuers pulled trapped drivers from rising waters in Arizona while authorities worked urgently to evacuate residents. Voting arrangements on Election Day were also disrupted, forcing changes to polling operations in affected areas.

Flood watches and warnings blanketed almost all of Arizona and reached into parts of Utah, Colorado and New Mexico to the south and west.

Pagosa Springs in Colorado and the upscale resort town of Sedona, Arizona, faced particularly dire warnings as rivers rose dangerously.

Motorists became stranded in floodwaters in Arizona, requiring emergency rescue as roads were rendered impassable across the Southwest.