Flash Flood — Santa Cruz, Arizona

2021-07-29 · near Tumacacori, Santa Cruz, Arizona

Event narrative

One inch of rain in less than 90 minutes caused rapid rises in Josephine Canyon. Two teenagers swimming near a waterfall were swept downstream by a rapid rise in the water level. One teenager drowned and another escaped the floodwaters while sustaining minor injuries and was later rescued.

Wider weather episode

Scattered thunderstorms moved southwest across southeast Arizona during the afternoon and evening hours. One storm caused wind damage and flash flooding at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Another storm produced heavy rain upstream of and flash flooding at a swimming spot east of Rio Rico. One teenager drown when he was swept away by flood waters.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (31.6073, -110.9291)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 976546. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.