Arizona, 2022

Flash Flooding in Arizona, July 23, 2022

July 23, 2022 · NWS FGZ · 3 events in 1 county or zone

A mid-level area of high shifted east and decreased in amplitude which opened the door for increased moisture, a classical medium to high end monsoonal pattern.

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
$250,000
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.

What happened

The episode as NWS FGZ wrote it up.

A mid-level area of high shifted east and decreased in amplitude which opened the door for increased moisture, a classical medium to high end monsoonal pattern.

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 23, 3:03 PM MST, 19 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 23, 3:03 PM MST, 19 minutes before
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The radar

The Flagstaff radar (KFSX), 88 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:22 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Coconino

When
July 23, 3:22 PM MST to 7:30 PM MST
Where
Coconino County, 4.87 mi N of Flagstaff to 2.78 mi N of Flagstaff
Cause
Heavy Rain / Burn Area
Property damage
$250,000
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
35.270, -111.660

Heavy rain fell over the western part of the Pipeline Fire scar (June 2022). This caused Schultz Creek (Dry Lakes gauge) to jump 2.84 feet. This flowed over Mt Elden Road, overwhelmed the drainage system along Highway 180, and flooded apartments and homes along Stevanna Way.

Flash Flood, Coconino

When
July 23, 5:26 PM MST to 8:30 PM MST
Where
Coconino County, 5.23 mi NNW of Cosnino to 4.92 mi SSW of Sunset Crater
Cause
Heavy Rain / Burn Area
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
35.272, -111.510

Heavy rain over the Schultz Fire scar (2010), Tunnel Fire scar (April 2022), and Pipeline Fire scar (June 2022) caused flooding in the area below. The water transported mud, ash, and debris across roads and filled ditches.

Flash Flood, Coconino

When
July 23, 6:00 PM MST to 7:30 PM MST
Where
Coconino County, 0.89 mi NW of Sedona to 2.81 mi NE of Sedona Arpt
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
34.860, -111.760

Heavy rain caused Oak Creek to rise 1.5 feet at the gauge in Sedona (OAKA3).

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 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, July 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: 1047740, 1047741, 1047742.