Arizona, 1998

Flash Flood and Flooding in Arizona, July 5 to 28, 1998

July 5 to 28, 1998 · NWS FGZ · 18 events in 3 counties and zones

5 flood, 5 funnel cloud, 5 hail, 2 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 11 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$56,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
18

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 Flagstaff radar (KFSX), 150 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:23 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 flood, 5 funnel cloud, 5 hail, 2 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Coconino

When
July 5, 4:30 PM MST to 5:30 PM MST
Where
Coconino County, Supai
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.839, -111.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A preliminary evacuation of the Supai Campground occurred due to rises in Supai Creek and its tributary Cataract Creek.

Flood, Yavapai

When
July 6, 12:00 AM MST to 2:00 AM MST
Where
Yavapai County, Bagdad
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
34.600, -112.554 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Three homes and a few streets in low lying areas of Bagdad were damaged by mud and water. Observed rainfall amounts of 2 inches during the event period were reported.

Flood, Coconino

When
July 6, 3:20 PM MST to 4:46 PM MST
Where
Coconino County, Flagstaff
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
35.839, -111.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A rainfall amount of 1 inch in 60 minutes was measured in east Flagstaff. Local street flooding was reported in this area.

Funnel Cloud, Coconino

When
July 6, 3:45 PM MST
Where
Coconino County, 10 mi SW of The Gap
Reported by
DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates
35.839, -111.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An Arizona Dept. of Public Safety worker and a Grand Canyon Park Ranger independently reported a funnel cloud between Highway 89 and the Grand Canyon.

Hail, Coconino

When
July 19, 1:25 PM MST to 1:50 PM MST
Where
Coconino County, Flagstaff
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates
35.200, -111.650

A NWS employee reported 1 inch diameter hail in the vicinity of the Flagstaff Medical Center. Several reports of marble sized hail were received during the event time.

Hail, Yavapai

When
July 19, 4:02 PM MST to 4:04 PM MST
Where
Yavapai County, Dewey
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
34.530, -112.230

A weather spotter reported 0.75 inch diameter hail covering the ground.

Hail, Coconino

When
July 19, 5:05 PM MST to 5:50 PM MST
Where
Coconino County, 70 mi SE of Flagstaff
Measured
3 in hail
Property damage
$47,000
Reported by
PARK/FOREST SERVICE
Coordinates
34.480, -110.780

Hail from 1.75 to 3.0 inches in diameter fell during a 45 minute period at the Chevelon Ranger Station. 13 vehicles sustained broken windows and severe denting with a damage total of $14,800. Damage to three metal roofs totalled $32,000. Trees were stripped of needles and small branches. The hail accumulated to a depth of three inches.

Thunderstorm Wind, Yavapai

When
July 19, 5:59 PM MST
Where
Yavapai County, 15 mi SE of Camp Verde
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
34.420, -111.670

A weather spotter reported down power lines due to thunderstorm outflow winds.

Hail, Coconino

When
July 19, 7:00 PM MST
Where
Coconino County, 45 mi SE of Flagstaff
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
34.730, -111.080

A weather spotter reported 1.75 inch diameter hail at Clints Well.

Hail, Yavapai

When
July 20, 8:45 PM MST
Where
Yavapai County, Camp Verde
Measured
1.25 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
34.570, -111.850

A weather spotter reported 1.25 inch diameter hail in Camp Verde.

Flood, Navajo

When
July 21, 8:25 PM MST to 9:25 PM MST
Where
Navajo County, Dilkon
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.400, -110.321 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Dilkon Police Department reported water one foot deep across the intersection of highway 87 and Navajo Route 15 as Coyote Wash flooded. Minor road damage was also reported.

Flood, Yavapai

When
July 22, 12:30 PM MST
Where
Yavapai County, Chino Vly
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
34.600, -112.554 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Street flooding occurred in Chino after an estimated 5 inches of rain fell between 0930 and 1200.

Funnel Cloud, Coconino

When
July 22, 2:40 PM MST
Where
Coconino County, Cosnino
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
35.839, -111.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two separate spotter reports of a funnel cloud in the Cosnino Road/ Walnut Canyon area were received.

Flash Flood, Coconino

When
July 22, 3:45 PM MST to 6:30 PM MST
Where
Coconino County, Sedona
Reported by
UNKNOWN
Coordinates
35.839, -111.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Highway 89a just north of Sedona was closed due to mudslides and 3 feet of water across the roadway.Highway 179 in Sedona was closed due to flooding.

Funnel Cloud, Coconino

When
July 22, 5:50 PM MST
Where
Coconino County, 9 mi NE of Flagstaff
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
35.839, -111.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The public reported a "low, fast rotating cloud about 100 to 200 feet above ground level, showing no other movement."

Funnel Cloud, Coconino

When
July 24, 10:27 AM MST
Where
Coconino County, 15 mi WSW of Flagstaff
Reported by
AIRPLANE PILOT
Coordinates
35.839, -111.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter pilot reported a funnel cloud.

Funnel Cloud, Coconino

When
July 24, 11:00 AM MST
Where
Coconino County, 4 mi NE of Flagstaff
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
35.839, -111.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A weather spotter reported a short lived funnel cloud.

Thunderstorm Wind, Yavapai

When
July 28, 2:15 PM MST
Where
Yavapai County, Paulden
Property damage
$7,000
Reported by
UNKNOWN
Coordinates
34.880, -112.470

A mobile home was destroyed by thunderstorm outflow winds estimated at 58 mph.

What these are

Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
Funnel Cloud
A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
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 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: 5660648, 5660649, 5660743, 5660650, 5660651, 5660652, 5660732, 5660744, 5660733, 5660734, 5660735, 5660736, 5660737, 5660738, 5660739, 5660740, 5660741, 5660742.