Water roared down the normally dry Salt River through metro Phoenix on Tuesday as Salt River Project released the most water from its Verde River dams in more than three decades. Across Arizona, communities were cleaning up after a weekend storm blamed for two deaths in Flagstaff and dozens of rescues around Sedona.

Releases from SRP’s Bartlett and Stewart Mountain dams reached about 54,000 cubic feet per second and were likely to exceed 60,000, 12News reported. ABC15 reported that releases over Granite Reef Dam topped 55,000 cubic feet per second early Tuesday, the highest since spring 2023.

The National Weather Service in Phoenix extended a flood warning for the Salt and Gila rivers until 2 p.m. MST Saturday, Nov. 7. The warning said a Maricopa County Flood Control District gauge below the Salt-Gila confluence measured flows of more than 61,000 cubic feet per second, affecting areas including Goodyear and Arlington.

Officials said high flows could last up to two weeks and urged people to stay out of washes, rivers and closed roads.

Reservoirs Overwhelmed
Jacob Richardson, a senior hydrologist with SRP, said inflow to Horseshoe Reservoir on the Verde River peaked at about 75,000 cubic feet per second. Normal inflow is about 600.

October and November inflows on the Verde were the highest since 1972, about eight times the average, Richardson said. The utility’s Verde releases are the largest since January 1993.

“We don’t have enough room to store all the water,” Richardson told 12News.

He said SRP had captured about 400,000 acre-feet of water from the storms and that releases could continue for a week and a half to two weeks.

“That water is moving and cooking,” Richardson said.

SRP said water releases are one of its most important tools for keeping enough storage space for dam and public safety.

In Tempe, firefighters rescued a man from a tree near the Loop 101 and Loop 202 interchange, 12News reported. Water activities on Tempe Town Lake were suspended.

Rainfall Totals

The storm soaked much of the state from Friday through Sunday. Scottsdale received 4.25 inches, Wittmann 3.43 inches, Cave Creek 2.83 inches and Apache Junction 2.09 inches, according to ABC15 meteorologist Jorge Torres, KTAR News reported. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport recorded 0.92 inch.

The weather service in Phoenix said the heaviest rain fell in the higher terrain and foothills north and east of Phoenix, where many locations got 3 to 6 inches or more.

In Tucson, the first two days of November were the wettest on record for that stretch, with records dating to 1894, the Arizona Daily Star reported. The city received 1.47 inches, including 1.23 inches on Nov. 1. Weather service meteorologist Julia Tetrault said the highest gauge reading in the area was 7.95 inches at Sabino Basin.

The weather service in Tucson said 2 to 4 inches of rain was common across the Tucson metro area, with 3 to 6 inches, locally more, in the mountains. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department carried out 16 river rescues.

Two Deaths in Flagstaff

In Flagstaff, two men died in floodwaters.

Williams Singavarapu, 73, of New York, fell into the water near Malpais Lane and Clay Avenue shortly after 5:30 p.m. Sunday, AZFamily reported. His body was found about 5:30 a.m. Monday near Ellery Avenue and W.C. Riles Street.

A second man, who has not been identified, was found in a drainage area near North Highway 89 and Lynch Avenue. His death was believed to be weather-related, AZFamily reported.

“We haven’t seen impacts like this in years, if ever,” said Tim Carter of Coconino County Emergency Management.

The weather service in Flagstaff said the area is already having its wettest fall, September through November, on record, with records dating to 1898 and most of November still to go. Nov. 1 was the third-wettest calendar day on record at Flagstaff’s airport, the agency said; its records show 3.37 inches fell that day.

Coconino County said Monday evening that residents in most evacuated areas could return home but would need to show proof of residency at police checkpoints. Some streets, including Blackhawk Lane, Trails End Drive and Lane, and Bear Wallow Lane, remained closed.

Sedona Rescues, Canyon Highway Damaged

Near Sedona, at least 40 people were rescued along Oak Creek, AZFamily reported. Oak Creek at Sedona reached 15.06 feet, above its 14-foot flood stage, KTAR reported.

Evacuations were ordered in Sedona zones 8, 9 and 10. Most of those areas were returned to “ready” status Monday.

State Route 89A remained closed between Sedona and Kachina Village, from mileposts 375 to 397. The Arizona Department of Transportation said floodwaters in Oak Creek Canyon deposited large piles of boulders and debris, damaged guardrails and undermined the road in several places.

ADOT said its crews have been working around the clock since Friday, Oct. 30, responding to record rainfall and flooding on highways across the state. Several highways remained closed Tuesday with no estimated reopening time, ADOT said.

Evacuations were also ordered in Camp Verde, Tonto Basin and Queen Valley, KTAR reported.

Lingering warnings in northern Arizona

The weather service in Flagstaff said lingering flooding would continue Tuesday on a few creeks and rivers.

A flash flood warning was in effect until 9 a.m. MST for Havasu Creek and Supai, including Beaver Falls, Little Navajo Falls and Mooney Falls. The weather service said Cataract Creek had risen 5.38 feet and that a flood wave was expected to reach Supai.

A flood warning for Moenkopi Wash near Tuba City was extended until 11 a.m. MST. The wash stood at 29.76 feet, above its 27-foot flood stage, and was falling, according to the weather service. A flood warning also remained in effect for the Gila River near Solomon in eastern Arizona.

Drier Week Ahead

Forecasters expect mostly dry weather the rest of the week. The weather service in Flagstaff said there was only a slight chance of light showers Friday. In southern Arizona, the Tucson office forecast abundant sunshine, below-normal temperatures and dry conditions this week.
ABC15 reported no more rain was expected in the Phoenix area this week. But because SRP’s releases could continue for up to two weeks, officials warned the Salt River would keep running high for some time.
Officials urged people to stay away from the riverbanks and out of washes, and never to drive around barricades or into flooded roads.