Arizona, 2017

Flash Flood in Arizona, July 27, 2017

July 27, 2017 · NWS FGZ · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Enough moisture remained over northern Arizona for isolated strong 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

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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 FGZ wrote it up.

Enough moisture remained over northern Arizona for isolated strong thunderstorms.

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 Flagstaff, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 27, 3:21 PM MST, 1 hour 10 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 27, 3:21 PM MST, 1 hour 10 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ
321 PM MST Thu Jul 27 2017

.SYNOPSIS...Expect daily chance for showers and thunderstorms as
an active monsoon pattern remains in place across northern Arizona
into next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...So far today, scattered showers and thunderstorms
have formed over much of the Mogollon Rim, White Mountains and
high terrain in far northeast Arizona. Subsequent outflow
boundaries have produced some isolated storms in portions of
Yavapai County and the Little Colorado River valley. These storms
are slow movers, and the primary hazards have been lightning and
heavy rain. The latest hi-res model guidance suggests showers may
continue across eastern portions of the area well into the
overnight hours.

On Friday, most model guidance suggests slightly higher boundary
layer moisture. In addition, an inverted trough is forecast to
move into southern Navajo and Apache Counties. Forcing from this
feature is expected to make eastern portions of the area the most
active, and a favorable location for MCS development. Elsewhere,
another round of scattered storms are expected, but an extensive
mid and upper level cloud deck may limit instability. Flow around
the inverted trough will cause storm mostion to switch to a more
northerly direction, but will remain quite light - generally 10
knots or less. Given deep layer shear values of 20 knots or less
and slow storm movement, flash flooding remains the primary
hazard from Friday's storms.

Over the weekend, The inverted trough to the south will turn the
flow aloft to the southeast over the weekend. This will advect in
more moisture over the region keeping good chances for storms in
the forecast. Latest model guidance suggest this pattern may
persist into early next week.

&&

.AVIATION...For theFor the 18Z package...Scattered showers will develop in
the afternoon and evening. Best chances are expected across the
mountains of east-central AZ, with MVFR/IFR conditions possible in
the stronger storms. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF
amendments. 00Z package...Showers and storms will continue this
evening. MVFR/IFR conditions possible in the stronger storms.
Clearing skies will develop this evening with another round of
showers and thunderstorms Friday afternoon. Aviation discussion
not updated for TAF amendments.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...Slow moving thunderstorms will continue to develop
and move across the area today, Friday afternoon and evening. Some
flash flood potential exists due to the high rainfall rates and slow
movement of the storms.

Saturday through Monday...Moisture is forecast to increase across
Arizona with a greater chance for showers and storms expected across
the fire district.

&&

.FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE.

&&

PUBLIC...RR
AVIATION...Suk
FIRE WEATHER...Suk

For Northern Arizona weather information visit
weather.gov/flagstaff

The radar

The Flagstaff radar (KFSX), 121 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:31 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Gila

When
July 27, 4:31 PM MST to 6:31 PM MST
Where
Gila County, 4.25 mi WSW of Cedar Creek to 8.47 mi SSW of Carrizo
Cause
Heavy Rain / Burn Area
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
33.900, -110.170

Heavy rain fell over the Cedar Fire scar and produced flash flooding. The White Mountain Apache Emergency Manager observed 5 feet of water in Cedar Creek with a notable in just 10 minutes. Carrizo Creek had 2.5 feet of water flowing.

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 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, July 2017

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: 719007.