Gila storm history

Catastrophic and deadly flash flooding occurred in the Globe area following strong to severe thunderstorms that produced very high rainfall rates. Observed gauge reports and doppler radar rainfall estimates measured approximately 2 inches of rain within 30 minutes in the Globe ar…

Tonto Creek near Roosevelt started to rise from a level of 3.7 feet (630 CFS) at around 1100 AM on March 21. The flooding started earlier upstream. The first peak flow of 12.2 feet (23,300 CFS) was at 800 PM on March 21. A second peak of 12.5 feet (25,500 CFS) was observed at 800…

Two people were canyoneering in Bull Canyon (also known as Water Slide Canyon) near Cherry Creek when one was swept away by rushing waters. An inch and a half to two inches of rain had fallen in the drainage in the previous 11 hours.

Tonto Creek rose to above action stage for several days due to heavy rain and melting snow. During the initial increase in flow, a vehicle attempted ford the creek at a low water crossing. The vehicle was washed downstream and one person in the vehicle died. This happened around …

A powerful Pacific low pressure system moving slowly east across Arizona interacted with deep moisture to produce widespread moderate to heavy rain across the higher terrain areas to the north and east of Phoenix during the morning hours on November 29th. Initially the heavy rain…

Thunderstorms with very heavy rain developed across portions of southern Gila County during the evening hours on July 22nd; some of the stronger storms produced peak rain rates in excess of one inch per hour that were sufficient to cause episodes of flash flooding. Some of the fl…

Very heavy rain over the Highland Fire scar and surrounding areas produced flash flooding in Ellison Creek which flows into the East Verde River. This is a very popular swimming area during the summer. Ten people were killed by the flooding (ages 2 to 57). Four people were rescue…

Three hikers were hit by lightning 10 miles north of Payson. One died and the other two were injured.

U.S. 60 closed from Superior to Globe due to flooding in the Globe/Miami area with sections of the roadway, primarily near Milepost 241, washed away. No injuries reported.

After 2 to 4 inches of rain fell, beginning around 0830MST, over the 2021 Telegraph burn area, catastrophic flooding occurred in Claypool area between Miami and Globe. Runoff mostly collected in Russell Gulch and a few feet of floodwaters moved downhill through the Claypool commu…

After 2.5-3.5 inches of rain fell over the northern portion of the Telegraph burn scar, runoff rapidly collected in Bloody Tanks Wash and flowed downstream through the town of Miami causing catastrophic damage. A rain gage in Russell Gulch to the south measured 2.01 inches of rai…

A USGS stream gauge at Fossil Creek near Strawberry (FCSA3) reported a 3.17 foot rise due to widespread rain across the basin. Peak flow was 2701 cfs.

Water levels from Pinal Creek out of its banks and nearly overtopping Connies bridge in Globe. No damages or injuries reported.

Considerable flow with several inches of water overtopping bridge and flowing down Six Shooter Canyon Road from Six Shooter Canyon Wash. No damages or injuries reported.

Low water crossing along Matlock Drive was overcome by the flood waters of Pinal Creek. Jesse Hayes Road nearby was also overcome by the floodwaters of both Pinal Creek and Hayes Gulch. No damages or injuries reported.

Route 6 between U.S. 70 and San Carlos closed due to flooding from Gilson Wash with a community near Milepost 6-7 evacuated. No injuries reported.

Raging torrent along Pinal Creek nearly overtopping the bridge at Bixby Road. No damages or injuries reported.

Video showed very fast flowing water along Repply Avenue in Miami. No damages or injuries reported.

Video shows a torrent of water moving down Latham Boulevard in Miami. No damages or injuries reported.

Video image showed a torrent of water moving down Pinal Creek and overtopping the bridge at East Haskins Road in Globe. No damages or injuries reported.

Route 6 closed from the San Carlos Detention Center to US-70 due to flooding. No damages or injuries reported.

ADOT, via social media, posted pictures of road damage on SR 288 near mile post 273.8, showing damage to a culvert and parts of the road due to heavy runoff from the Billy Fire burn scar. Heavy rainfall of 2 to 3 fell over the area. Time was estimated using the Roosevelt Dam SRP …

A USGS stream gauge on the East Verde River (EVDA3) reported over a 2 foot rise in 90 minutes. That's an increase in flow from 12 to 630 cfs.

Public reported hail up to the size of quarters in Pine.

An mPING report was submitted of Sycamore Creek overflowing across Fire Control Road (Nf-64) near Pine.

Public reported a rapid 4 foot water rise in Pine Creek at Tonto Natural Bridge State Park.

Public estimated 2 feet of water from Webber Creek flowing over the road entering Geronimo Estates.

Public reported water flowing over Fire Control Road in at least 8 spots west of Geronimo Estates.

Fast flowing water along Vanwinkle Avenue in Miami. No damages or injuries reported.

Fast flowing water through Six Shooter Canyon wash, inundating low water crossings including Beer Tree Crossing. No damages or injuries reported.

US 60 impassable near the Miami area. No damages or injuries reported.

Floodwater from heavy rain northeast of Globe traveled downstream within Ramboz Wash to Gilson Wash and then all the way to San Carlos. At some point within these washes a swift water rescue was made by San Carlos Apache Police and Fire Departments. Video showed a single individu…

Quarter-sized hail reported in Miami. No damages or injuries reported.

Video showed Loomis Ave in Miami was a raging river with a foot of water rapidly moving down the street. No damages or injuries reported.

Video showed significant flash flooding along US-60 near Grover Canyon Rd with a few feet of water in front of the Miami Regional Training Center with water up to the hoods of several cars. No injuries reported.

Walmart closed due to flooding with around 60% of the store flooded with a couple inches of water. Some trash pallets from behind the store also clogged the culvert under US-60, which compounded the flooding. The extent of damages to the store is unknown. No injuries reported.

US-60 closed between Mile-marker 243 and Mile-marker 247, from Miami to AZ 188, due to flooding. A photo also showed a flooded Miami Ave in downtown Miami. No damages or injuries reported.

Video from Miami Memorial Library showed several inches of water rapidly moving down Adonis Avenue. Timing estimated from radar. No damages or injuries reported.

Floodwaters escaped the banks of Bloody Tanks Wash and came down the streets from the north leading to significant flash flooding in downtown Miami, with lots of mud and rocky debris. Floodwaters entered businesses on Sullivan St. The floodwaters led to the collapse of the front …

Video showed water raging down Chisholm Avenue in Miami. A couple of large black cylinder items were swept down the road by the floodwaters. Timing estimated from radar. No injuries reported.

A damage assessment showed evidence of floodwaters escaping Bloody Tanks Wash near the US-60 bridge. Photos showed Reppy Ave just south of US-60 had significant flooding with the road covered curb to burb in a few inches of mud and rocks. No damages or injuries reported.

Images and videos showed significant floodwaters in Pinal Creek, making low-water crossings impassable. The floodwater reached the base of a bridge located just south of Downtown Globe. Radar estimates showed over 2 inches of rain fell over the basin in less than 3 hours. No dama…

Video from San Carlos Apache Police Department showed a water rescue of 5 kids and their dog who were trapped out on an island in the middle of Gilson Wash near Waco Rd. The police department received the calls for help around 2040MST. The water moving through the wash was up to …

Mesonet station QSCA3 San Carlos No. 1 in San Carlos measured a 62 mph peak gust.

A Maricopa County Flood Control District streamflow gauge along East Fork Cave Creek near 7th Avenue in North Phoenix recorded a water level that rose above the designated alarm stage level of 3 ft, and had a peak stage of 3.55 ft at 0035MST. Any increase in water levels to or ab…

Arizona Department of Transportation reported Barnes Rd was closed between Stanfield Rd and Pala Rd due to flooding. The report came out at 0854MST on 9/4, but timing was moved up to shortly after the last of the heavy rain fell in the area. No damages or injuries reported.

A stream gauge on Tonto Creek (TNRA3) measured a 3.02 ft rise in 45 minutes. Can infer flash flooding further upstream near the Rye Creek and Tonto Creek confluence.

Law enforcement reported street flooding at the intersection of AZ Highway 260 and Quail Run Road. Radar estimated 2 to 3 inches of rain had fallen in a short amount of time in the area.