Flood in Arizona, September 24, 2019

Name: Flood in Arizona, September 24, 2019
Start: 2019-09-24T15:00
End: 2019-09-24T21:00
Location: Arizona

September 24, 2019 · NWS PSR · 1 event in 1 county or zone

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: 0
Property damage: $2,000
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 PSR wrote it up.

Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms occurred across portions of La Paz County during the very early morning hours on September 24th. Many of the stronger storms produced heavy rain with peak rain rates well in excess of one inch per hour. Multiple flash flooding episodes occurred during the very early morning hours, as flowing washes made roads such as Highway 95 impassable. Although much of the heavy rain was over by 0300MST, water continued to drain into area washes, such as Centennial Wash, during the morning and afternoon which led to continued flooding that lasted through the afternoon and into the evening. For example, at 1721MST the Arizona Department of Highways reported that Highway 60 was closed 2 miles northeast of Wenden. The closure was due to both flowing water in Centennial Wash as well as heavy rains that occurred much earlier in the day. There were no reports of accidents due to the flooding.

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 Phoenix, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 24, 2:56 PM MST, 4 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 24, 2:56 PM MST, 4 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
256 PM MST Tue Sep 24 2019

.SYNOPSIS...
Only a small chance for a storm or shower in the forecast area
today. Brief heavy rain is still possible with any storm that
develops. Rain chances increase Wednesday through Thursday as the
upper level disturbance remains near the region. This disturbance
will move east of the region Friday, with drier conditions
expected this weekend. Temperatures will remain well below
seasonal normals for most of this week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
The radar is significantly quiet today compared to this time
yesterday with mostly clear skies. The clear skies are allowing
for better surface heating and mixing today with early afternoon
dew points dipping into the upper 50s so far. Today will most
likely remain fairly quiet with most hi-res guidance hinting at
only a few isolated showers/storms for this afternoon an evening,
primarily over western Maricopa and Yuma Counties late today.

Isolated showers may begin to form early Wednesday morning with
deep southerly flow. By the afternoon, temperatures are forecast
to warm into the upper 80s/low 90s, and with ample moisture in
place, the atmosphere should destabilize by early afternoon. As
the low shifts slightly east, atmospheric conditions for
thunderstorms will be best in the southeast quadrant of Arizona,
including the eastern half of the CWA. At that time, lapse rates
should also steepen somewhat due to cooling aloft. Model guidance,
including the HREF, shows the best instability across western
Arizona where surface heating will be strongest, and with strong
flow aloft, bulk shear values may be as high as 30-40 kts allowing
some storm organization. Latest model trends suggest convection
initiating over southwestern Arizona, and possibly southeast
California, early afternoon and then spreading eastward with
multiple rounds of storms and showers possible. Activity is also
likely to linger well through the night and into early Thursday.
The greatest concerns with storms Wednesday will be strong winds
and heavy rain, although some hail may be possible.

The Storm Prediction Center placed a broad Day 2 Marginal risk
for severe storms across the southwestern third of Arizona. The
flood risk will also be elevated Wednesday with excessive rain
rates associated with convection. Therefore, a Flash Flood Watch
from western Gila County west up to the Colorado River is in
effect from Wednesday morning through very early Thursday morning.

Lingering moisture will also allow for isolated to scattered
thunderstorms Thursday afternoon. As long as the low remains over
Arizona with adequate moisture, the possibility of thunderstorms
and showers remains. The activity should subside drastically by
the start of the weekend as the low ejects towards the east. Broad
troughing then expands across the west keeping a relatively
cooler airmass over the region which translates to below normal
daytime temperatures.

&&

.AVIATION...Updated at 1752Z

South-Central Arizona including KPHX, KIWA, KSDL, and KDVT:

Appears likely that south-central AZ will have a bit of a break
today aviationwise as the bulk of convective activity shifts
southeastward well outside of the Greater Phoenix area. Main impacts
from these showers/TS to the southeast will be to push gusty
southeasterly outflow winds northwestward into the region between
19Z and 22Z today. Winds should remain light enough to greatly
limit/eliminate any blowing dust threat. Thereafter, expecting
lighter easterly winds to prevail through the rest of this afternoon
and through tonight. CIGS should remain in the SCT-BKN range, aoa 8
kt feet through early Wednesday. There is a chance for shower
activity overnight, but confidence is too low to include them in the
TAF at this time. A much better chance for showers/TS exists for the
afternoon hours on Wednesday, thus including VCTS in the TAFS for
the period.

Southeast California/Southwest Arizona including KIPL and KBLH:

No aviation concerns are expected through the TAF period as
northerly winds generally prevail on the northwest side of a
cutoff low moving towards the Gulf of California. Winds should
generally remain below 10-15 knots through the TAF period, with
current northerly/northwesterly winds gradually transitioning to
light southeasterly on Wednesday. Ceilings should remain above 8-10
kft with scattered high clouds.

Aviation Discussion not updated for amended TAFs.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Friday through Tuesday:
Lingering showers Friday but rain chances become very low/zero by
the weekend through next week. Conditions will dry but
temperatures will remain below normal. Daytime RH values will
generally remain above 15% with good overnight recovery. Winds
will be somewhat stronger on Sunday but will otherwise be fairly
light and favor diurnal trends.

&&

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Spotters should follow standard reporting procedures.

&&

.PSR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AZ...Flash Flood Watch from Wednesday morning through late Wednesday
     night for AZZ530>555-557>559-561.

CA...None.
&&

DISCUSSION...Deems
AVIATION...Percha
FIRE WEATHER...Deems

In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 24, 9:21 AM MST, 5 hours 39 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
921 AM MST TUE SEP 24 2019

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

0645 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 E PARADISE VALLEY     33.53N 111.91W
09/23/2019                   MARICOPA           AZ   BROADCAST MEDIA

            CORRECTS PREVIOUS TSTM WND DMG REPORT FROM 2
            E PARADISE VALLEY. SEVERE WIND GUSTS
            UPROOTED A TREE (APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES IN
            DIAMETER) AND SENT IT INTO A KITCHEN WINDOW.
            NO INJURIES REPORTED.

&&

DSD

Local storm report, Sep 24, 10:44 AM MST, 4 hours 16 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
1044 AM MST TUE SEP 24 2019

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

0730 AM     FLASH FLOOD      8 ESE ROOSEVELT         33.62N 111.00W
09/23/2019                   GILA               AZ   EMERGENCY MNGR

            ** DELAYED REPORT ** 7 HOMES FLOODED IN
            ROOSEVELT ESTATES AS CAMPAIGN CREEK
            OVERFLOWED ITS BANKS. AS MUCH AS 18 INCHES
            OF WATER WAS REPORTED IN ONE OF THE HOUSES.

&&

MH

Local storm report, Sep 24, 12:02 PM MST, 2 hours 58 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
1202 PM MST TUE SEP 24 2019

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

1259 AM     FLASH FLOOD      2 ENE BRENDA            33.69N 113.92W
09/24/2019                   LA PAZ             AZ   COUNTY OFFICIAL

            ROAD 42E CLOSED FOR FLASH FLOODING IN
            MULTIPLE WASHES.

&&

DSD

Local storm report, Sep 24, 12:06 PM MST, 2 hours 54 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
1206 PM MST TUE SEP 24 2019

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

0102 AM     FLASH FLOOD      7 NW VICKSBURG          33.81N 113.84W
09/24/2019                   LA PAZ             AZ   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            WATER REPORTED ON STATE ROUTE 95 NORTH BOUND
            AT MILE MARKER 40 (ARIZONA DOT).

&&

DSD

Local storm report, Sep 24, 12:10 PM MST, 2 hours 50 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
1210 PM MST TUE SEP 24 2019

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

0107 AM     FLASH FLOOD      4 N QUARTZSITE          33.72N 114.22W
09/24/2019                   LA PAZ             AZ   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            STATE ROUTE 95 AT MILE MARKER 113
            EXPERIENCING FLOODING (ARIZONA DOT).

&&

DSD

Local storm report, Sep 24, 12:49 PM MST, 2 hours 11 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
1249 PM MST TUE SEP 24 2019

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

0210 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 WSW FOUNTAIN HILLS    33.59N 111.82W
09/23/2019                   MARICOPA           AZ   PUBLIC

            **DELAYED REPORT** PUBLIC REPORT AND PHOTOS
            OF MULTIPLE LARGE TREES KNOCKED DOWN. RADAR
            ESTIMATED WIND SPEEDS AROUND 50-60 MPH. TIME
            ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.

&&

SDB

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, La Paz

When: September 24, 3:00 PM MST to 9:00 PM MST
Where: La Paz County, 7.28 mi E of Wenden to 7.23 mi SSE of Wenden
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 33.819, -113.423

Scattered showers and thunderstorms continued to produce significant rainfall across much of La Paz County during the early morning hours on September 24th and several episodes of flash flooding were reported. Although most of the heavy rain ended during the early morning, water continued to drain into area washes, and across roads, for the rest of the morning and into the afternoon resulting in some lingering flooding concerns. According to the Arizona Department of Highways, at 1721MST Highway 60 was closed approximately 2 miles to the northeast of the town of Wenden. The road was closed due to flooding; flowing water from Centennial Wash as well as rains from much earlier in the day caused the flooding. Fortunately there were no reports of accidents due to the flooding and associated hazardous driving conditions. Despite the reports of flooding, no flood warnings or advisories were in effect for the area during the afternoon or evening hours.

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Arizona in 2019 Every state in 2019 This day in weather history Warnings in Arizona, September 2019

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: 852437.