Name: Flash Flood in Arizona, August 13, 2022
Start: 2022-08-13T12:15
End: 2022-08-13T15:15
Location: Arizona

Where it happened

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $50,000
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 FGZ wrote it up.

Deep monsoon moisture over northern Arizona lead to the development of thunderstorms with heavy rain and flash flooding. A flash flood watch was issued for parts of northern Arizona during the late morning through late evening.

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 Aug 13, 9:05 AM MST, 3 hours 10 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 13, 9:05 AM MST, 3 hours 10 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ
905 AM MST Sat Aug 13 2022

.SYNOPSIS...Daily showers and thunderstorms will continue across
northern and central Arizona through the weekend, maintaining an
enhanced threat for flash flooding. Remember, turn around, don't
drown.

&&

.UPDATE...Unsurprisingly, cloud cover this morning is inhibiting
convective initiation across much of northern Arizona. An
impressive mesoscale vortex is spinning over northern Yavapai
County. While not producing much rainfall, its persistence has led
to a determined batch of unbroken skies. How quickly this cloud
cover dissipates will dictate how quickly instability can build in
the lower atmosphere. This instability is an important ingredient
for strong convective storms. Overall, today's activity looks
delayed compared to yesterday's early start. Storms will likely
form first over the eastern Rim and White Mountains, where skies
are already clear. Any storms that form today have plenty of
moisture to work with, guaranteeing heavy rainmakers in certain
areas.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION /110 AM MST/...Deep saturation, above average PW
values and surface dewpoints, along with light, southerly
steering flow, will make for a continued active pattern this
weekend and into next week. The only day-to-day variation will be
how much instability is either limited due to cloud cover and
prior-day rainfall, or not limited, due to a sunnier start and
drier soils. Either way, we are in a pattern where any convection
that does form will have the potential to produce above average
rainfall rates and Flash Flooding, especially due to frequently
saturated soil over much of the area.

A Flash Flood Watch has already been issued for much of the area
and we expect more of the same in the coming days. This is truly
quite a prolific pattern and extended further to the west and
northwest than we have seen in a few years. Stay safe out there.

&&

AVIATION...For the 18Z TAF package...Expect scattered to numerous
thunderstorms along and south of a KSJN-KINW-KGCN through 03Z.
Activity will be more in the isolated to scattered range northeast
of that line. After 03Z, shower and storm activity becoming
isolated. Surface winds light away from storms. Aviation discussion
not updated for TAF amendments.

&&

FIRE WEATHER...Widespread showers and storms will continue through
the weekend with peak activity in the afternoons. Expect gusty and
erratic winds near any storms. Flash flooding remains possible.
Otherwise, light winds away from storms with little change in high
and low temperatures.

Monday through Wednesday...Little change. Monsoon moisture will
remain in place with showers and thunderstorm each day.

&&

&&

.FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flood Watch through this evening for AZZ004>008-012>018-037-038-
104>108-112>118-137-138.

&&

PUBLIC...BJ
AVIATION...McCollum
FIRE WEATHER...McCollum

For Northern Arizona weather information visit
weather.gov/flagstaff

The radar

The Flagstaff radar (KFSX), 95 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:13 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Coconino

When: August 13, 12:15 PM MST to 3:15 PM MST
Where: Coconino County, 4.71 mi WNW of Sunset Crater to 5.93 mi WSW of Sunset Crater
Cause: Heavy Rain / Burn Area
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 35.370, -111.580

A flash flood was reported on Highway 89 about 8 miles northeast of Doney Park (mile post 430...north of Wupatki Trails and south of the Sunset Crater turnoff). The highway was closed in both directions. Flooding also overtopped the highway at Brandis Way.

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 2022 Every state in 2022 This day in weather history Warnings in Arizona, August 2022

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: 1053666.