Flash Flood — La Paz, Arizona

2023-09-02 · near Quartzsite, La Paz, Arizona

Event narrative

An image on social media showed elevated flow within Tyson Wash through La Paz Valley, making a low water crossing impassable. No damage or injuries were reported.

Wider weather episode

A deep closed low along the California coast and broad upper level ridging centered over the southern Plains promoted deep southerly flow across the Desert Southwest. This southerly flow promoted anomalous moisture advection into the area with PWATs upwards of 1.8-2 in the Lower Colorado River Valley area. Abundant moisture combined with CAPE upwards of 1,500-2,000 J/kg and a weak shortwave embedded in the flow allowed for efficient rain-producing thunderstorms to develop heading into the early afternoon hours on the 2nd. Several rain gages recorded over an inch of rainfall with these thunderstorms across southwest Arizona while radar estimates indicated locally heavier amounts in excess of 1.5 in some areas. As a result of these thunderstorms producing very heavy rainfall amounts in a short period of time, numerous instances of flash flooding occurred, particularly in the Yuma, Quartzsite, and Bouse areas. A couple of water rescues occurred, but no injuries were reported during this event.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (33.5808, -114.2504)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1140616. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.