Arizona, 1997

Flash Flood in Arizona, August 28, 1997

August 28, 1997 · NWS TWC · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Radar estimated rainfall up to 6 inches caused flooding across road south of Topawa in which one vehicle was washed away. Further west flood waters went across many spots along highway 85 near Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and east of Ajo on highway 86.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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  • Wind
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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS TWC wrote it up.

Radar estimated rainfall up to 6 inches caused flooding across road south of Topawa in which one vehicle was washed away. Further west flood waters went across many spots along highway 85 near Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and east of Ajo on highway 86.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Pima

When
August 28, 6:30 PM MST to 7:30 PM MST
Where
Pima County, West Portion
Coordinates
32.097, -111.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Arizona in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, August 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5613966.