Arizona, 1998

Flash Flooding and Flood in Arizona, July 20 to 21, 1998

July 20 to 21, 1998 · NWS TWC · 5 events in 3 counties and zones

2 flash flood, 1 funnel cloud, 1 flood, 1 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$45,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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.

The radar

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

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Event by event

2 flash flood, 1 funnel cloud, 1 flood, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Funnel Cloud, Pima

When
July 20, 12:20 PM MST to 12:30 PM MST
Where
Pima County, 2 mi N of Sasabe
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
32.097, -111.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Custom officials at the Port of Customs in Sasabee reported several funnel clouds.

Flood, Pima

When
July 21, 4:00 AM MST to 5:00 AM MST
Where
Pima County, Tucson
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
32.097, -111.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low water crossing along the Canada Del Oro wash were reported flooded.

Flash Flood, Santa Cruz

When
July 21, 3:15 PM MST to 4:00 PM MST
Where
Santa Cruz County, Nogales
Property damage
$30,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
31.526, -110.847 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

2-3 feet of water flooded the Monta Carlo neighborhood damaging many houses. The Nogales sheriff also reported flooding of South River Road and along highway 82 in Nogales.

Thunderstorm Wind, Graham

When
July 21, 5:30 PM MST
Where
Graham County, 2 mi E of Ft Thomas
Property damage
$15,000
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
33.030, -109.930

Thunderstorm winds blew the roof off a bar and destroyed the north wall. Also a roof was taken off a storage shed and some trees were blown down.

Flash Flood, Pima

When
July 21, 5:45 PM MST
Where
Pima County, 10 mi W of Tucson
Reported by
NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates
32.097, -111.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Four vehicles were rescued out of a flooded low water crossing at Sandario and Mile Wide road.

What these are

Funnel Cloud
A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
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.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Arizona in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, July 1998

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: 5661735, 5661736, 5661737, 5661806, 5661807.