Flagstaff endures major flooding as storms slam area

PHOENIX – Flood waters coursed through Flagstaff on Wednesday, prompting area officials to close streets and issue shelter-in-place place orders.

It was the second straight day of heavy rains that turned roads and streets into rivers with water powerful enough to sweep a compact car away in a Flagstaff neighborhood.

More rain was expected Thursday through at least early next week, the National Weather Service said.

Coconino County Emergency Management officials issued a shelter-in-place order Wednesday afternoon for the area around the 2019 Museum Fire area, warning residents to move to higher ground and not to enter flood waters.

The emergency office said more than 2.5 inches of rain deluged the ground east of Flagstaff.

The weather service issued flash flood warnings for Flagstaff, Doney Park and Winona.

Flooding continues in Flagstaff, AZ, and other parts of the state with a monsoon pattern holding in place across the weekend. #azwx pic.twitter.com/vavQsiDhr5

— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) July 15, 2021

FLASH floods occur suddenly, as you can see from this video courtesy of the City of Flagstaff taken Tuesday.

Expect the unexpected.

Get ready for monsoon driving: https://t.co/iqWof9oBN2 #flagstaff #azsraffic pic.twitter.com/E0wsJ4ASxY

— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) July 14, 2021

The rushing waters brought down debris and mud from the Museum Fire scar area. The wildfire is a few miles northwest of where flooding occurred Tuesday.

“You got a couple inches of rain in a short period of time … water has to go somewhere,” Flagstaff weather bureau meteorologist Evan LaGuardia told KTAR News 92.3 FM of the roaring water that pulled a Toyota Prius along Steves Boulevard.

As the water subsides, workers are busy cleaning up.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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