Flash Flood — Gila, Arizona

2025-09-04 · near Tonto Basin, Gila, Arizona

Event narrative

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 above alarm stage leads to the low-water crossing along 7th Avenue, immediately downstream of the gauge location, becoming impassable. No damages or injuries were reported.

Wider weather episode

Scattered to numerous thunderstorms developed over the northern half of AZ as well as near the International Border during the afternoon hours with more isolated activity developing across the foothills and higher terrain areas east of Phoenix. All of this activity was due to strong upper-level ascent associated with a low pressure system along the west coast and another upper-level disturbance over northern Mexico. Outflow boundaries from the aforementioned activity sparked new thunderstorm activity during the evening hours across much of the south-central AZ lower deserts, including the Phoenix area. The combination of MLCAPE values between 500-1000 J/kg and DCAPE values of around 1500 J/kg supported strong to locally severe downburst wind gusts. PWATs were also near 1.5, supporting an environment conducive to high rainfall rates with these thunderstorms and thus some flooding impacts.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (33.6294, -112.0806)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1294817. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.