Arizona, 2022

Flash Flooding in Arizona, July 25 to 26, 2022

July 25 to 26, 2022 · NWS PSR · 2 events in 1 county or zone

An MCV situated in western Pima County on the morning of the 25th led to the development of showers/thunderstorms into Maricopa County. Deep monsoonal moisture, with PWATs in excess of 2 across south-central Arizona, allowed for showers/thunderstorms to be efficient rainfall producers leading to isolated flash flooding.

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
2

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.

An MCV situated in western Pima County on the morning of the 25th led to the development of showers/thunderstorms into Maricopa County. Deep monsoonal moisture, with PWATs in excess of 2 across south-central Arizona, allowed for showers/thunderstorms to be efficient rainfall producers leading to isolated flash flooding. A trained spotter near Arcacia Dr and 186th Dr reported 0.50 of rain in 20 minutes. To the south, flash flooding was reported in Waterman Wash, making roads impassable and leading to a water rescue. Additional heavy rainfall in the evening resulted in more isolated flash flooding. No injuries were reported.

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 Jul 25, 4:31 AM MST, 4 hours 14 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 25, 4:31 AM MST, 4 hours 14 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 25, 7:06 AM MST, 1 hour 39 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 25, 7:53 AM MST, 52 minutes before
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The radar

The Phoenix radar (KIWA), 68 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:43 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Maricopa

When
July 25, 8:45 AM MST to 9:45 AM MST
Where
Maricopa County, 12.25 mi SSE of Liberty to 12.18 mi SSW of Liberty
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
33.218, -112.395

Public videos showed Waterman Wash flowing with several feet of water, making Riggs Rd impassable. A water rescue was also reported in this area. Further downstream, ADOT reported that Tuthill Rd between Fairview St and Pecos Rd as well as Narramore Rd between Airport Rd and Dean Rd were closed due to flooding. These roads are unbridged crossings through Waterman Wash.

Flash Flood, Maricopa

When
July 25, 11:30 PM MST to July 26, 1:30 AM MST
Where
Maricopa County, 5.73 mi SW of New River to 5.77 mi SW of New River
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
33.859, -112.198

A video on social media showed water flowing across New River Rd, causing the driver taking the video to turn around. A nearby FCDMC at the New River Landfill recorded over 2 of rain in an hour.

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: 1046742, 1046745.