Flash Flood — Greenlee, Arizona

2014-09-16 · near Franklin, Greenlee, Arizona

Event narrative

Heavy rain caused flash flooding along Highway 70 near mile marker 377. Flash flooding also occurred at mile marker 380 where Rainville Wash overtopped the roadway.

Wider weather episode

An initial band of moisture associated with Tropical Depression Odile, once rated as strong as a Category 4 hurricane, contributed to heavy rainfall in Greenlee County on September 16th. A precipitable water value of 1.91 inches was noted on the Tucson sounding at 1200 UTC September 17th. Odile took a sharp turn to the east later that day, which limited rainfall from Tucson westward, although widespread heavy rain fell in Cochise, Santa Cruz and southeast Graham Counties. From the afternoon of September 17th into the early morning hours of September 18th, rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches were common with locally heavier amounts of 4 to 6 inches reported. Multiple reports of flooding were received due to both flash flooding and river flooding.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (32.6946, -109.0924)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 543899. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.