The first in a series of disturbances moved across Arizona from March 20 to 21. This caused widespread snow showers to develop.  The heaviest snow was over the higher terrain in upslope areas. This storm also delivered strong and damaging winds. The higher snow levels caused significant melting of lower elevation snow and flooding. The flooding took several days to flow down major rivers in northern Arizona.

Flood in NAVAJO, ARIZONA
From 22-MAR-23 09:00:00 to 23-MAR-23 14:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: ZENIFF
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Highway 377 between Heber and Holbrook was closed due to flooding at mile post 13 around 900 AM on March 22. Seymour's Crossing was flooded the night of March 22. A vehicle was swept downstream for about an hour. The occupants were able to reach the bank but, were separated. The woman's body was found the next day.

High Wind in YAVAPAI COUNTY MOUNTAINS, ARIZONA
From 22-MAR-23 03:08:00 to 22-MAR-23 04:28:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

The Humbug Creek RAWS reported a peak wind gust of 65 MPH at 348 AM. The wind gusts were estimated to be 58 MPH or higher between 308 and 408 AM MST.

Heavy Snow in WESTERN MOGOLLON RIM, ARIZONA
From 20-MAR-23 20:00:00 to 22-MAR-23 11:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Snow started to fall in the Flagstaff area around 800 PM on March 20. Eight inches accumulated by 11 AM on March 21. Light snow continued through the day on March 22. By the afternoon of March 22, 10.9 inches of snow fell at the Flagstaff Airport and 9.7 inches at the NWS office in Bellemont. A spotter in Kachina Village reported a total of 9.5 inches of snow.

Flood in NAVAJO, ARIZONA
From 22-MAR-23 20:00:00 to 24-MAR-23 15:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: WEST WINSLOW
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

Rain and rain on snow caused the The Little Colorado River in Navajo County to reach flood stage in the evening of March 22. The river gauge at Holbrook showed a sharp rise around 800 PM. The river dropped back down at that location around 800 PM on March 24.  The river gauge at Winslow showed a sharp rise around 1000 PM on March 23 and dropped back down around 1100 AM on March 24. The Bird Springs Chapter House (downstream of Winslow) poste a video that showed flooding over Navajo Route 71 (impassable) at 1000 AM on March 24.

Flood in COCONINO, ARIZONA
From 21-MAR-23 11:00:00 to 26-MAR-23 17:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: EAST RED LAKE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

The river gauge on the Little Colorado River near Cameron showed a spike starting around 1100 AM on March 21.  The river dropped back down and then showed a steady increase again around noon on March 23 corresponding to flows arriving from the Winslow area. The river at Cameron dropped back down again by the evening of March 25.  The hydrograph on the LCR at the Colorado River showed the same trace 6 hours later...dropping down around noon on March 26.

Flood in YAVAPAI, ARIZONA
From 21-MAR-23 23:00:00 to 24-MAR-23 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: PERKINSVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

The Verde River rose above flood state at Clarkdale around 11 PM on March 21 due to rain and melting snow. The flood waters continued downstream into Horseshoe Lake. The water dropped below action stage around noon on March 24.
The stream gauge on the Verde River near Paulden reported a peak stage of 13.2 feet with a flow of 16,000 CFS at 400 PM on March 22. This is the second highest peak for this gauge.
Properties between the Verde River and Bates road in Cottonwood south of State Route 89A were reported to have inundated by at least a foot of water by 930 AM on March 22.

Heavy Snow in EASTERN MOGOLLON RIM, ARIZONA
From 20-MAR-23 20:00:00 to 22-MAR-23 17:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Ten inches of snow fell in Forest Lakes between the evening of March 20 and the afternoon of March 21 when the snow changed to rain.

High Wind in LITTLE COLORADO RIVER VALLEY IN APACHE COUNTY, ARIZONA
From 22-MAR-23 11:00:00 to 22-MAR-23 17:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

The winds at the Springerville Airport had winds gusts of 58 MPH or higher between 1100 AM and 530 PM. The peak wind gust was 73 MPH at 315 PM.  The sustained wind was above 40 MPH for about the same period of time.

High Wind in CHUSKA MOUNTAINS AND DEFIANCE PLATEAU, ARIZONA
From 22-MAR-23 11:33:00 to 22-MAR-23 11:33:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 58.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The ADOT wind sensor at Lupton and Interstate 40 reported a peak wind gust of 67 MPH at 1133 AM MST.

High Wind in EASTERN MOGOLLON RIM, ARIZONA
From 22-MAR-23 05:30:00 to 22-MAR-23 10:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

The peak wind gust at the Limestone RAWS was 62 MPH at 1024 AM.  The wind gust were estimated to be at or above 58 MPH from around 530 AM to 1030 AM.

Flood in APACHE, ARIZONA
From 22-MAR-23 00:00:00 to 24-MAR-23 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: LYMAN LAKE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

The Little Colorado River in Apache County began to flood early March 22. The river remained high until mid-day March 24.

High Wind in WESTERN MOGOLLON RIM, ARIZONA
From 22-MAR-23 00:59:00 to 22-MAR-23 00:59:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

The peak wind gust at the Flagstaff Airport of 59 MPH was reported at 1259 AM MST.

Flood in YAVAPAI, ARIZONA
From 21-MAR-23 10:00:00 to 22-MAR-23 15:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: BEAVER CREEK
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The USGS stream gage at Wet Beaver Creek two crests. The first one was from 1000 AM to 400 PM on March 21 and the second one was from 700 AM to 1200 PM on March 22.  Clogging of the gauge affected the actual flows.  Media showed pictures and videos of property and homes flooded in Rimrock along East Beaver Vista and East Sycamore Lanes (both on 3/21 and 3/22).

Flood in YAVAPAI, ARIZONA
From 22-MAR-23 05:00:00 to 22-MAR-23 18:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: CANYON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A stream gauge on the Agua Fria River near Black Canyon City reported a rise of over 15.5 feet. The river started to rise at around 800 AM on March 21. The river reached the flood stage around 400 AM March 22 and remained above flood stage until around 500 PM. The Rivers Edge RV Park was evacuated due to flooding.

Flood in GILA, ARIZONA
From 21-MAR-23 07:00:00 to 25-MAR-23 11:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: WHISPERING PINES
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Tonto Creek near Roosevelt started to rise from a level of 3.7 feet (630 CFS) at around 1100 AM on March 21.  The flooding started earlier upstream. The first peak flow of 12.2 feet (23,300 CFS) was at 800 PM on March 21. A second peak of 12.5 feet (25,500 CFS) was observed at 800 AM on March 22. The gauge dropped back down to action level at (4.35 feet) on March 25 at 800 AM. An elderly couple and their dog were killed in the Bear Flat area when they cross the flooded Tonto Creek in their truck.

Flood in COCONINO, ARIZONA
From 21-MAR-23 09:00:00 to 22-MAR-23 23:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: SEDONA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The stream gauge on Oak Creek in Sedona rose above action stage at  (7 feet) at 900 AM on March 21.  It reached a peak of 16.35 feet at 600 AM on March 22 and then dropped below 7 feet around 1100 PM March 22.  Flood stage is at 14.0 feet.