San Pedro R at Charleston: 9,740 cfs (8/7/30) Total damage was estimated at $20,000 (Ingram 17). In Nogales, Arizona many adobe buildings collapsed, and damage to stores and residences occurred.
Due to rushing waters and accumulated water and mud, four deaths occurred in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. Unusually heavy rains on the mountains south and west of Nogales on the 1st, 7th, and 8th caused small stream flooding. Damage to roads, culverts and bridges was estimated by the State Highway Department at $50,000 (Ingram 16). Four men were struck by lightning in Nogales. Benson was isolated by washouts on railroads and highways. Highway 80 east and west of Douglas was washed away. A cloudburst occurred between Pima and Safford in Graham county. Clifton: 4,060 cfs (9/12/27)ĭamaging wind and rain storms occurred in south central and southeastern Arizona. Many rivers, streams, and washes over flowed and a rise of six feet occurred on the Gila River at Ray Junction (Ingram 16). Heavy rains caused washouts of railroad tracks between Pima and Central in Graham county, and Pearce and Kelton in Cochise county. State Bureau of Highways placed the damage to improved roads and small bridges at $60,000 (Ingram 16). Camp Little at Nogales damage was $12,000. Thatcher, Douglas, Nogales and Safford were flooded and many adobe houses crumbled. The Southern Pacific Railroad experienced damaged roadbeds, washed out bridges, and suspended traffic west of Douglas. The Gila River was above flood stage at Kelvin. The Agua Prieta River ran half a mile wide, submerging bridges and highways. Bisbee reported the heaviest monthly rainfall ever known: 10.19 inches. One of the most damaging rainstorms in Arizona history swept over central and southeastern Arizona. The Winkleman branch of the Southern Pacific railroad was washed out (Ingram 15). The Gila River crossing at Gillespie Dam was closed to traffic for three days, because 4.5 feet of water poured over the dam. General rainstorms with thunder and high winds occurred over the entire state. The total damage, including crops, irrigation ditches, equipments, loss of records, etc is estimated at $240,000 (Ingram 14). Channel water continued in the Gila River over most of its length, preventing crossing except at bridges. The Gila also reached its highest stage of the year (Ingram 14).Įxcessively heavy rains occurred throughout the mountain regions of the state from the latter part of July through August. Some damage to irrigating systems was reported on the San Pedro River. The heavy rains washed out roads and caused loss to railroads from wrecks, bridges destroyed, and track washed out. Benson reported 2.43 inches in less than one hour. Amounts in excess of 2 inches in 24 hours fell at sixteen stations. Thunderstorms accounted for record-breaking rainfall. Additional rains in the latter half of the month kept many rivers, including the San Francisco, Gila, and San Pedro, above fordable stages (Ingram 11). This runoff filled river beds, causing high flows in many streams and severe floods on the San Francisco river on the 3rd, 4th and 5th, whereby many lives were lost from drowning, much property was destroyed, and railroad traffic was delayed for more than a week. Warm rains on the 1st-4th caused rapid snow melt of November accumulations. Two cloudbursts in the Whetstone Mountains sent flash floods through Benson, drowning two mothers and four children (Ingram 10). Much destruction occurred and many lives were lost (Ingram 7). The Gila at Eagle Pass was seven feet above the previous high water mark. Holbrook and Fort Thomas reported the highest water levels ever known on the 24th. The Gila River at Fort Thomas was very high on the 19th, preventing travel to west to Black Rock. Two Pacific storms dumped rain over the Arizona Territory, causing damage in almost every town.
The Salt, Gila, Colorado, and Santa Cruz rivers all overflowed their banks (Ingram 6). The newly completed $600,000 Walnut Grove Dam in Yavapai County burst on the 22nd, drowning about 50 people. The rains melted snow in higher elevations, causing rapid rises in runoff. Rain covered the Arizona Territory for three days straight with little let-up. Nogales experienced unusually heavy rains which flooded streets, destroyed bridges, and washed away railroad tracks (Ingram 5). If you have further information on these or other floods, send your comments to the webmaster. Scanned photo images are also included for a few events. This page provides brief text summaries and peak flow data (courtesy of the USGS) for most of the floods and flash floods that have impacted southeast Arizona.
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