Flash Flood — Yavapai, Arizona

2009-09-10 · near Oak Creek Canyon Arp, Yavapai, Arizona

Event narrative

Heavy rain, with rates up to 4 inches in an hour, fell on the Red Rocks on the northwest side of Sedona. With virtually no infiltration, the water quickly flowed into normally dry channels and washes. There were reports of numerous flooded homes, widespread street flooding, over flowing stream beds, large boulders washed into streets, eroded paved roads, and cars moved and stacked by flood water. A 4 foot wall of water swept through the Los Abrigados Resort parking lot and moved parked cars. One normally dry gully filled with 6 feet of rushing water. Several people were rescued after their cars started floating in the rapidly raising water in parking lots. City officials estimated that clean on public roads and drainage would cost over $600,000.

Wider weather episode

A thunderstorm produced very heavy rain that caused flash flooding and damage to the Tlaquepaque area of Sedona.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (34.8625, -111.7618)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 196760. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.