Flash Flooding and Flood in Arizona, January 20 to 23, 2010

Name: Flash Flooding and Flood in Arizona, January 20 to 23, 2010
Start: 2010-01-20T20:00
End: 2010-01-23T04:00
Location: Arizona

January 20 to 23, 2010 · NWS VEF · 10 events in 2 counties and zones

A series of four Pacific storms pounded the Mojave Desert and southern Great Basin between January 18th and 21st with heavy rain and snow (which led to river flooding), locally high winds, and isolated severe thunderstorms.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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: 1
Property damage: $1.2 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 10

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 VEF wrote it up.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Las Vegas, NV wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 20, 4:35 PM MST, 3 hours 25 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 20, 4:35 PM MST, 3 hours 25 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 20, 5:16 AM MST, 14 hours 44 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
416 AM PST WED JAN 20 2010

CAZ519-521-210800-
EASTERN SIERRA SLOPES-WHITE MOUNTAINS OF INYO COUNTY-
416 AM PST WED JAN 20 2010

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CALIFORNIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

HEAVY SNOW IS EXPECTED TODAY. A WINTER STORM WARNING GOES INTO
EFFECT AT 10 AM.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

ANOTHER ROUND OF HEAVY SNOW IS EXPECTED THURSDAY. THE WINTER STORM
WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING. SNOW SHOWERS
WILL LINGER THROUGH FRIDAY...THEN DRY WEATHER IS EXPECTED OVER THE
WEEKEND. ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM COULD BRING MORE SNOW MONDAY AND
TUESDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS WILL BE NEEDED TODAY AND THURSDAY.

NVZ018-019-210800-
SHEEP RANGE-SPRING MOUNTAINS-
416 AM PST WED JAN 20 2010

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN
NEVADA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

HEAVY SNOW IS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. A WINTER STORM
WARNING WILL BE IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH 4 AM
THURSDAY MORNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

ANOTHER STORM WILL AFFECT THE MOUNTAINS THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND
EVENING...AND COULD BRING MORE HEAVY SNOW. SNOW SHOWERS WILL
LINGER THROUGH FRIDAY...THEN GENERALLY DRY WEATHER IS EXPECTED
SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY. ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM COULD BRING MORE
SNOW ON TUESDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS WILL BE NEEDED TODAY AND THURSDAY.

NVZ015-210800-
LINCOLN COUNTY-
416 AM PST WED JAN 20 2010

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN
NEVADA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

SNOW IS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. A WINTER WEATHER
ADVISORY WILL BE IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH 4 AM
THURSDAY MORNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

ANOTHER STORM THURSDAY EVENING WILL BRING MORE
PRECIPITATION...WHICH COULD START AS RAIN BEFORE CHANGING BACK TO
SNOW THURSDAY NIGHT. SNOW SHOWERS WILL LINGER THROUGH
FRIDAY...THEN GENERALLY DRY WEATHER IS EXPECTED SATURDAY THROUGH
MONDAY. ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM COULD BRING MORE SNOW ON TUESDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS WILL BE NEEDED TODAY AND THURSDAY.

AZZ002-CAZ525>527-210800-
LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY-MORONGO BASIN-CADIZ BASIN-
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY-UPPER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY-
416 AM PST WED JAN 20 2010 /516 AM MST WED JAN 20 2010/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST
ARIZONA AND CALIFORNIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

RAIN WILL OVERSPREAD THE AREA TONIGHT. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL
BE POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

RAIN WILL TAPER OFF THURSDAY MORNING...THEN ANOTHER STORM WILL
BRING MORE HEAVY RAIN THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. A FLOOD
WATCH WILL BE IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY
EVENING. HEAVY RAIN WILL TAPER OFF THURSDAY NIGHT...AND SHOWERS
WILL LINGER THROUGH FRIDAY. GENERALLY DRY WEATHER IS EXPECTED
SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY...THEN ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM COULD BRING
MORE RAIN ON TUESDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS WILL BE NEEDED TONIGHT AND THURSDAY.

AZZ003-036-NVZ016-021-210800-
NORTHWEST DESERTS-LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA-
NORTHEAST CLARK COUNTY-
416 AM PST WED JAN 20 2010 /516 AM MST WED JAN 20 2010/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST
ARIZONA AND SOUTHERN NEVADA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

RAIN WILL OVERSPREAD THE AREA TONIGHT. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL
BE POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

RAIN WILL TAPER OFF THURSDAY MORNING...THEN ANOTHER STORM WILL
BRING MORE HEAVY RAIN THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE HEAVY
RAIN PLUS MELTING SNOW UPSTREAM COULD LEAD TO FLOODING ON THE BIG
SANDY AND MUDDY RIVERS. A FLOOD WATCH WILL BE IN EFFECT FROM
THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON. HEAVY RAIN WILL TAPER
OFF THURSDAY NIGHT...AND SHOWERS WILL LINGER THROUGH FRIDAY.
GENERALLY DRY WEATHER IS EXPECTED SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY...THEN
ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM COULD BRING MORE RAIN ON TUESDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS WILL BE NEEDED TONIGHT AND THURSDAY.

AZZ001-CAZ520-522>524-NVZ014-017-020-022-210800-
NORTHWEST PLATEAU-OWENS VALLEY-DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK-
WESTERN MOJAVE DESERT-EASTERN MOJAVE DESERT-
ESMERALDA AND CENTRAL NYE COUNTY-
WESTERN CLARK AND SOUTHERN NYE COUNTY-LAS VEGAS VALLEY-
SOUTHERN CLARK COUNTY-
416 AM PST WED JAN 20 2010 /516 AM MST WED JAN 20 2010/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST
ARIZONA...CALIFORNIA AND SOUTHERN NEVADA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW WILL OVERSPREAD THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON
AND TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW WILL TAPER OFF THURSDAY MORNING...THEN
ANOTHER STORM WILL SPREAD RAIN BACK OVER THE AREA THURSDAY
AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE RAIN WILL TAPER OFF THURSDAY
NIGHT...BUT SHOWERS WILL LINGER THROUGH FRIDAY. GENERALLY DRY
WEATHER IS EXPECTED SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY...THEN ANOTHER STORM
SYSTEM COULD BRING MORE RAIN ON TUESDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS WILL BE NEEDED TONIGHT AND THURSDAY.

MORGAN

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jan 20, 3:01 PM MST, 4 hours 59 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
201 PM PST WED JAN 20 2010

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0619 PM     FLOOD            BOULDER BEACH           36.04N 114.81W
01/19/2010                   CLARK              NV   PARK/FOREST SRVC

            THE PARK SERVICE REPORTED ABOUT 4 INCHES OF STANDING
            WATER IN THE BOULDER BEACH CAMPGROUND.

0800 PM     SNOW             1 NNE EAGLE VALLEY      38.04N 114.18W
01/19/2010  M6.0 INCH        LINCOLN            NV   CO-OP OBSERVER

            SPRING VALLEY STATE PARK MEASURED 6.0 OF NEW SNOW AT AN
            ELEVATION OF 5950 FEET. THE END TIME OF THIS EVENT WAS
            ESTIMATED.

0100 AM     SNOW             7 N I-40 AT FORT ROCK   35.29N 113.37W
01/20/2010  M2.5 INCH        MOHAVE             AZ   CO-OP OBSERVER

            DIAMOND M RANCH REPORTED 2 INCHES OF SNOW BETWEEN
            MIDNIGHT AND 1 AM THIS MORNING AT AN ELEVATION OF 5480
            FEET.

&&
DELAYED REPORTS FROM THE SECOND STORM TO AFFECT THE AREA THIS WEEK.

STACHELSKI

Local storm report, Jan 20, 3:40 PM MST, 4 hours 20 minutes before

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The radar

The Las Vegas radar (KESX), 98 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:50 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 flash flood, 2 heavy snow, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 high wind, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Northwest Deserts

When: January 20, 8:00 PM MST to January 22, 9:00 AM MST
Where: Northwest Deserts forecast zone
Reported by: Public

Fifteen inches of snow fell at Hualapai Mountain State Park (6600').

Heavy Snow, Northwest Deserts

When: January 20, 11:00 PM MST to January 23, 4:00 AM MST
Where: Northwest Deserts forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

The co-op observer at Diamond M Ranch measured 14 inches of snow.

Flash Flood, Mohave

When: January 21, 3:48 PM MST to 4:15 PM MST
Where: Mohave County, 2.36 mi ESE of Kingman to 2.46 mi ESE of Kingman
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.190, -114.010

A spotter reported that a driveway was washed out and four to six inches of water flowed down some streets.

Thunderstorm Wind, Mohave

When: January 21, 5:15 PM MST to 5:50 PM MST
Where: Mohave County, 1.32 mi ENE of Kingman to 0.69 mi S of New Kingman-Butler
Measured: 88 kt (101 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.210, -114.030

Thunderstorm winds snapped 20 power poles, bent several stop signs at 45 degree angles, and tore a carport off a home and wrapped it around a utility pole. A spotter measured a gust of 101 mph.

Flash Flood, Mohave

When: January 21, 5:30 PM MST to 6:30 PM MST
Where: Mohave County, 2.77 mi SE of Riviera to 3.38 mi SE of Riviera
Cause: Heavy Rain
Injuries: 0 direct, 1 indirect
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 35.075, -114.561

Rocks were washed onto Bullhead Parkway south of Adobe Road. The loose rocks contributed to a vehicle rollover.

Flash Flood, Mohave

When: January 21, 6:30 PM MST to 7:30 PM MST
Where: Mohave County, 7.54 mi SSE of Meadview to 7.95 mi SSE of Meadview
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 35.895, -114.033

Diamond Bar Road was closed due to flooding.

Flash Flood, Mohave

When: January 21, 6:30 PM MST to 7:30 PM MST
Where: Mohave County, 1 mi S of Oatman to 1.2 mi SSW of Oatman
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 35.016, -114.380

Oatman Highway was closed due to flooding, and did not reopen until the next morning.

Flash Flood, Mohave

When: January 21, 6:30 PM MST to 8:00 PM MST
Where: Mohave County, 0.27 mi SW of Kingman to 0.56 mi SSE of Kingman
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 35.197, -114.053

Several roads in Kingman were closed due to flooding.

High Wind, Northwest Deserts

When: January 21, 6:31 PM MST
Where: Northwest Deserts forecast zone
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS

The Kingman ASOS measured a gust of 59 mph.

Flood, Mohave

When: January 22, 2:43 AM MST to 6:43 AM MST
Where: Mohave County, 3.38 mi SE of Wikieup to 2.85 mi SE of Wikieup
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 34.666, -113.577

The Big Sandy River near Wikieup crested at 17.9 feet. This was the all-time record crest. Several roads were washed away.

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
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.
High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Arizona in 2010 Every state in 2010 This day in weather history Warnings in Arizona, January 2010

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: 206918, 206920, 206922, 206923, 208353, 206924, 206925, 206926, 206927, 206928.