Flood waters inundated hundreds of homes in Phoenix and Scottsdale. This is particularly notable because normal June rainfall in Phoenix is only 0.13 inches. June 22 1972: Severe flash flooding occurred in metro Phoenix. Three to five inches of rain fell over much of the north half of the Phoenix metro area. Roof damage to the McClintock High School gymnasium allowed water to pour onto the gymnasium floor causing severe damage. January 7 1971:The temperature at Hawley Lake dropped to 40 degrees below zero establishing a state record low.Īugust 30: An F-1 tornado touched down south of Tempe and moved north into the city. Eye witnesses reported what appeared to be a huge dust devil reaching into the clouds before the tornado struck. An estimated 100 homes were damaged with most of the damage to roofs, windows, and block walls. Very heavy rain and hail accompanied the tornado, and 41 minor injuries were reported due to flying glass. There were 23 deaths in central Arizona including 14 from flash flooding on Tonto Creek in the vicinity of Kohl's Ranch.Total rainfall at Workman Creek (about 30 miles north of Globe in the Sierra Ancha mountains) was 11.92 inches, with 11.40 inches falling in 24 hours. Other rainfall amounts included 9.09 at Upper Parker Creek, 8.74 at Mount Lemmon, 8.44 at Sunflower, 8.08 at Kitt Peak, 7.12 at the Tonto Creek Fish Hatchery, and 7.01 inches at Crown King. September 4 and 5 1970:The Labor Day storm of 1970. The remains of tropical storm Norma brought severe flooding to Arizona and became the deadliest storm in Arizona history. Southern Arizona did not escape the measurable snow as even the lowest deserts saw accumulation. Amounts include 84.0 inches on Mount Lemmon, 27.5 inches at Miami,17.7 inches at Wilcox,11.0 inches at Safford,5.0 inches at Wickenburg,3.8 inches at Douglas,3.0 inches at Ajo, and 1.6 inches at Tucson. And, perhaps the most surprising report of all, 2.5 inches at Gila Bend.ġ970 The Labor Day Storm of 1970 -Tropical Storm Norma On December 14, a state record 38.0 inches fell in 24 hours at the Heber Ranger Station. Snowfall totals over the Rim country included 102.7 inches at Hawley Lake, 99 inches at Greer, 91.5 inches at the Heber Ranger Station, 87.3 inches at Crown King, 77.0 inches at Payson, 46.0 inches at Prescott, 35.2 inches at Sedona, and 31.0 inches at the south rim of the Grand Canyon. The Navajo Nation was extremely hard hit as two to three feet of snow fell across the reservation. Window Rock measured 33.5 inches. People on the reservation were instructed to use ashes from their stoves and fireplaces to write distress signals in the snow that could be spotted from the air. At Winslow, where average annual snowfall is 11.2 inches, 39.6 inches of snow was reported. Monthly precipitation exceeded 12 inches at several mountain stations.ġ967 Storm of the Century - 86 inches of Snow at Flagstaffĭecember 12-20 1967: A huge snow storm paralyzed northern Arizona and brought snow to much of the state. In reality, it was two storms with the second following closely on the heels of the first. During these nine days, 86.0 inches of snow fell at Flagstaff. September 25 through 27 1962: The remains of Tropical Storm Claudia causes severe flash flooding in and around Tucson.Up to seven inches of rain fell in the desert just west of Tucson near the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. Flood waters inundated Marana and Sells.Īugust 27: A tornado hit the San Xavier Mission Village west of Tucson. Two deaths and 9 injuries were reported. Four homes were destroyed.ĭecember 1965: Heavy rainfall and melting snow forced a release of water into the Salt River. All roads across the Salt River in metro Phoenix were washed out and all bridges at least partially damaged. Inflation adjusted damage was in the millions of dollars.
In early 1916, the flow on the Gila River around Yuma is estimated to have reached 200,000 cubic feet per second a record which probably will never be broken as reservoirs on the Gila, Salt, and Verde rivers now greatly reduce the flow at Yuma even during the most serious flooding.
Over the years, there have been many significant storms that have affected Arizona. Due to a very small population base, the details of storms affecting Arizona during the first half of the 20 th century are sketchy at best, and the following list is largely limited to events that have occurred since 1960. Arizona's Most Notable Storms of the 20th Century
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