1,237 first-hand accounts of flood events in Arizona, ranked by impact. Each is a NOAA-written narrative of the moment.
A low pressure system in northern Arizona interacted with abundant moisture to produce showers and thunderstorms across southern Arizona. Some of the storms produced large hail, torrential rains, and strong winds.
Read the full account →A slow moving upper level low pressure system moved down the California coast, tapping ample moisture and spreading precipitation across the state of Arizona. This was a relatively warm storm with high snow levels, at or above 6500-7000 feet.
Read the full account →Anomalous snowfall across the high terrain of Arizona as well as lower elevation rainfall led to greater than normal runoff into the Salt and Verde watersheds.
Read the full account →Severe thunderstorms produced rainfall rates of half of an inch in 30 minutes which flooded several streets in Tucson Metro area. Spotters in the Tucson Mountains reported 1.46 inches of rain in 25 minutes.
Read the full account →The first in a series of disturbances moved across Arizona from March 20 to 21. This caused widespread snow showers to develop. The heaviest snow was over the higher terrain in upslope areas. This storm also delivered strong and damaging winds.
Read the full account →Deep monsoon moisture over northern Arizona and an area of low pressure moving over the area from the east brought more thunderstorms with heavy rain, flooding, and at least one funnel cloud.
Read the full account →A mid-level closed low centered off the coast of Southern California brought abundant moisture into Arizona from the southwest. Areas of heavy rain fell south of Interstate 40 and east of Flagstaff.
Read the full account →A powerful winter storm moved east across the central Arizona deserts on the 8th of March, and the associated cold front passed over the area during the afternoon hours bringing gusty winds in excess of 50 mph, locally heavy rain and small to moderate hail.
Read the full account →Scattered thunderstorms developed across the deserts of south central Arizona, including the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, during the afternoon hours on July 29th.
Read the full account →A very strong jet stream moving across the Pacific brought abundant moisture and significant precipitation to northern Arizona on January 21th. The snow level started out around 3400 feet with significant snow above 5000 feet.
Read the full account →Scattered thunderstorms developed across the south central Arizona deserts during the afternoon hours on July 14th. Due to the very moist and unstable nature of the atmosphere, the storms tended to produce locally heavy rainfall with rainfall rates well in excess of one inch per…
Read the full account →Thunderstorms produced scattered heavy rain across northern Arizona. Some storms lasted through the night. Some locations (Cottonwood, Sedona, Heber-Overgaard, and Parks) received an inch to an inch and a half in 24 hours without any flooding issues.
Read the full account →A nearly stationary upper-level trough combined with tropical moisture remnants from Tropical Storms Priscilla and Raymond, which developed off the eastern Pacific, led to scattered to widespread thunderstorm activity across much of south-central AZ.
Read the full account →A westward moving upper level trough over northern Mexico helped place much of Arizona under broad difluent flow aloft, aiding in the development of thunderstorms across the state.
Read the full account →Between 0500 and 1000 am very heavy thunderstorm rainfall produced widespread flash flooding over the Tucson Metro area. 35-40 rescues were made of people stranded in flooded washes, and 250 storm related emergencies were reported to city and county Fire Departments.
Read the full account →A nearly stationary upper-level trough combined with tropical moisture remnants from Tropical Storms Priscilla and Raymond, which developed off the eastern Pacific, led to scattered to widespread thunderstorm activity across much of south-central AZ.
Read the full account →An upper level trough and lead-on shortwave trough moved through Arizona during the day on the 18th. Moderate to high instability and high moisture content supported scattered strong thunderstorms.
Read the full account →A slow moving upper level weather system produced periods of heavy rain across southeast Arizona July 24 and 25, especially in Pinal and Pima counties.
Read the full account →A nearly stationary upper-level trough combined with tropical moisture remnants from Tropical Storms Priscilla and Raymond, which developed off the eastern Pacific, led to scattered to widespread thunderstorm activity across much of south-central AZ.
Read the full account →Isolated strong thunderstorms developed across portions of the greater Phoenix area during the mid afternoon hours on July 31st. One storm produced a wind gust to 64 mph at the Deer Valley airport.
Read the full account →Scattered thunderstorms moved northwest across southeast Arizona during the afternoon and evening. Heavy rain over the Bighorn Fire burn scar resulted in flash flooding in Finger Rock Canyon. Several homes and an assisted living facility were flooded in the Catalina Foothills.
Read the full account →The combination of near record moisture content (PWATs 1.8-2.0 inches), moderate to strong instability (SBCAPE 2000 J/KG), very slow steering flow and an upper-level disturbance resulted in a very conducive environment for the generation of thunderstorms producing very heavy…
Read the full account →A slow-moving low pressure system brought several rounds of showers and thunderstorms over multiple days through much of the region. Activity on the 25th was mostly concentrated across higher terrain areas of eastern AZ, fueled by MLCAPE values approaching 2000 J/kg.
Read the full account →A slow-moving low pressure system brought several rounds of showers and thunderstorms over multiple days through much of the region. Activity on the 25th was mostly concentrated across higher terrain areas of eastern AZ, fueled by MLCAPE values approaching 2000 J/kg.
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