Sep 23, 2022
An abundance of moisture (PWAT 1.5+) and moderate to high instability (MLCAPE of 1000-2000 J/KG) led to the development of terrain and diurnally induced thunderstorm activity across portions of southwest Arizona during the afternoon hours. Some of this activity spread westward across the Lower Colorado River Valley towards extreme eastern Riverside County, where a slowing moving thunderstorm led to flash flooding and debris flow along Highway 95 north of Blythe.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database (event 1056588). Narrative written by NWS staff at the time of the event.
This event is one of many recorded floods in Imperial County. See the full FEMA flood zone map, NFIP claim totals, and disaster history for the area.