Arizona Weather Calms After Deadly Halloween Floods
Calmer skies returned to Arizona on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, as a low pressure system moved east following days of high rainfall totals and disastrous flooding across northern and central parts of the state over the Halloween weekend.
The severe weather claimed two lives in Flagstaff and forced thousands of residents to evacuate as high flows tore through communities along Oak Creek through Sedona. Parts of Tonto Basin in Gila County were placed under “go status” due to rising floodwaters. Seasonal weather is expected for the entire week and into the next weekend, leaving behind cooler air with temperatures in the mid- to upper-70s in central and southern Arizona and the 50s in northern Arizona.
River levels peak as flooding declines
The lingering cool air provides time for flooding to decline in watershed systems, though many gauges remained under actionable flood stages on Monday morning. Peak river flooding reached impressive heights across several key locations. The Verde River measured 24.65 feet at Camp Verde and 23.83 feet at Clarkdale, while Oak Creek reached 21.20 feet at Page Springs. Carrizo Creek near Show Low hit 37.92 feet, and the Moenkopi Wash near Tuba City reached 34.95 feet. The Little Colorado River at Winslow remained an exception, with levels expected to rise to nearly double the major flood stage.
Flood warnings from northern to south-central Arizona remained in effect during the morning, with many set to expire in the afternoon or evening while the National Weather Service in Flagstaff extended several others. Most runoff is expected to subside somewhat quickly, though larger waterways and watersheds like the Salt and Verde systems could take upward of a week to clear. High volumes of water are also being released from dams by SRP as runoff flows into the reservoirs. Early Monday morning, over 60,000 cubic feet per second flowed from Bartlett Dam into the Verde River, and over 34,000 cubic feet per second flowed from Granite Reef Dam into the Salt River. Recreation in either of the rivers is highly discouraged throughout the week.
Rainfall Totals from the Atmospheric River
The extreme flooding stemmed from an atmospheric river that dropped significantly above-average moisture levels across the state. Storms on Friday, Oct. 30, acted as a predecessor rainfall event, fully saturating the ground so that subsequent precipitation could not be properly absorbed. The greater wave of rainfall materialized faster than forecasted on Saturday afternoon and evening, Oct. 31, and continued through Sunday, Nov. 1. Metro Phoenix recorded rain totals up to three inches, with higher amounts to the northeast and far east, including 1.58 inches at Sky Harbor, 4.32 inches at Berneil Wash in Paradise Valley, 3.18 inches at Sun Village Golf Course in Surprise, 1.04 inches at Val Vista Drive and Pueblo Avenue in Mesa, 2.80 inches in Apache Junction, and 5.11 inches at Rackensack Canyon.
Higher totals accumulated just outside the Valley, entering the foothills and the Mogollon Rim. Workman Creek in Gila County recorded 8.40 inches, Crown King in Yavapai County logged 7.54 inches, Upper Sycamore Creek in Gila County saw 7.04 inches, Black Canyon Lake in Navajo County reached 6.81 inches, and Oak Creek in Yavapai County recorded 6.56 inches.