Arizona, 2019Flash Flooding in Arizona, February 3 to 4, 2019
February 3 to 4, 2019 · NWS FGZ · 3 events in 2 counties and zones
A Pacific cold front brought widespread rain and high mountain snow to northern Arizona February 2-3. The front also brought gusty southwest winds to the area.
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
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 3
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.
A Pacific cold front brought widespread rain and high mountain snow to northern Arizona February 2-3. The front also brought gusty southwest winds to the area.
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 Feb 3, 5:01 AM MST, 1 hour 14 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Feb 3, 5:01 AM MST, 1 hour 14 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ
501 AM MST Sun Feb 3 2019
.SYNOPSIS...A Pacific cold front will bring widespread rain and
high mountain snow to the area through early today. In addition,
gusty southwest winds will also persist through the day.
Unsettled and cooler weather conditions will continue through at
least the middle of the week, with the possibility of a colder
and snowier system later Tuesday and Wednesday.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Strong, gusty winds with substantial rainfall and mountain snow
are continuing across northern AZ early this morning. Still, snow
levels have remained above most population centers so snowfall
has not been much of an issue yet. Convective showers behind the
main frontal band may still produce some light amounts later as
snow levels drop a bit as the morning evolves.
Even behind the passing cold front, a period of unsettled weather
will persist through at least midweek. Precipitation chances with
generally light showers will continue Monday and early Tuesday.
However, greater chances for more appreciable precipitation are
forecast to develop later Tuesday into Wednesday. We've bumped up
precip chances and amounts during this period. As this next low
pressure system is expected to be colder, more of the
precipitation is likely to fall as snow than with the current
front. Details should become clearer in the coming 48 hrs.
&&
.AVIATION...For the 12Z Package...Expect wdsprd IFR/LIFR in CIGS
and areas of rain and high elevation snow through 16Z-18Z, with
slowly improving conditions afterward. Showers will become more
spotty this afternoon and tonight, most prevalent along and just
SW of higher terrain, where stratus/upslope low clouds and fog
will continue. Sfc winds sw15-25g35kts, gusts to 45kts through 18Z
over higher terrain. Winds decrease tonight. Aviation discussion
not updated for TAF amendments.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...Expect cool conditions today, with areas of rain
and high elevation snow decreasing from west to east. Locally
gusty southwest winds will continue, especially this morning,
becoming lighter tonight. Isolated to scattered rain and snow
showers will continue on Monday, with southwest winds 10 to 20
mph.
Tuesday through Thursday...An unsettled and cool weather pattern
will continue through this time frame. Rain and snow showers
will increase on Tuesday and Wednesday, with potential for
significant snow accumulations in the high country. Showers
decrease, but do not completely end, on Thursday. Gusty southwest
winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts from 30 to 40 mph expected each
day, lighter on Thursday.
&&
.FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE.
&&
PUBLIC...KD
AVIATION...Peterson
FIRE WEATHER...Peterson
For Northern Arizona weather information visit
weather.gov/flagstaff
Flash Flood, Coconino
- When
- February 3, 6:15 AM MST to February 4, 7:15 PM MST
- Where
- Coconino County, 5.59 mi W of Mountainaire to 8.76 mi E of Sedona
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- Other Federal Agency
- Coordinates
- 35.019, -111.698
Oak Creek in Sedona rose 7 feet between 615 AM and 830 AM. Numerous low water crossings in Oak Creek Canyon were flooded. The creek dropped below bank full by 700 PM on February 4 in Sedona. The river gauge at Page Springs rose 9 feet between noon and 230 PM. At the peak of the flooding at the Page Springs RV Park, a foot of water was flowing through the park. at the peak of the flooding. One large treek and several small trees came down. Red mud was deposited throughout the RV park. The water continued to flow downstream from Sedona into the Verde River where it was no longer a flood issue.
Flash Flood, Yavapai
- When
- February 3, 11:00 AM MST to February 4, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- Yavapai County, 5.53 mi N of Rimrock Arpt to 6.22 mi N of Montezuma Castle
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- Other Federal Agency
- Coordinates
- 34.730, -111.780
Dry Beaver Creek rose 6 feet between 11 AM and 2 PM. This water flowed into Wet Beaver Creek and then the Verde River.
Flash Flood, Yavapai
- When
- February 3, 4:15 PM MST to February 4, 4:15 PM MST
- Where
- Yavapai County, 1.41 mi E of Beaver Creek to 2.08 mi ESE of Camp Verde
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- Other Federal Agency
- Coordinates
- 34.671, -111.675
Wet Beaver Creek rose 6.5 feet from 415 pm TO 7 PM. This water flowed down into the Verde River where flooding was not an issue.
- 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.
- Heavy Snow in Washington, February 3 to 5, 20192 deaths · 6 events
- Cold in Wisconsin, February 3, 20191 death · 1 event
- Heavy Snow in Nevada, February 3 to 5, 201926 events
- Debris Flows and Flooding in California, February 3 to 6, 201923 events
- Heavy Snow in North Dakota, February 3 to 4, 201920 events
- Heavy Snow in Minnesota, February 3 to 4, 201916 events
- Heavy Snow in North Dakota, February 3 to 4, 201915 events
- High Wind in Colorado, February 3, 201970 kt wind · 15 events
- Heavy Snow in Oregon, February 3 to 4, 201911 events
- Winter Weather in Iowa, February 3 to 4, 201911 events
- High Wind in Wyoming, February 3, 201966 kt wind · 7 events
- Winter Weather in Minnesota, February 3 to 4, 20196 events
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: 808297, 808309, 808320.