Flash Flood — Gila, Arizona

2025-09-18 · near Cutter, Gila, Arizona

Event narrative

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 the waists of the kids at the time of the rescue. A gauge several miles upstream on Gilson Wash began rising just after 1900MST and reached a peak stage of 4.2 ft at 2036MST. The floodwaters originated from a storm that produced around 2 inches of rain near Cutter. No injuries were reported.

Wider weather episode

The combination of an upper-level low off the CA coast and the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Mario resulted in a significant moisture increase with PWATs increasing upwards of 1.8-2.0 across most of southwest AZ. The aforementioned features also provided strong upper-level forcing to result in widespread showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon hours. With MLCAPE values maxing out at 1500 J/kg along with the abundant moisture, the thunderstorms were efficient rain producers, resulting in instances of flash flooding. DCAPE values ranging between 1000-1200 J/kg also resulted in instances of severe wind gusts. Further east, across Gila County, additional thunderstorm activity developed during the afternoon hours with cell training resulting in instances of flash flooding as well.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (33.3762, -110.5674)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1294159. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.