Flooding closes US 60 in Globe as area prepares for ‘catastrophic’ event

PHOENIX — Flash flooding closed U.S. 60 in both directions Wednesday afternoon in Globe for about an hour as the area braced for potentially “catastrophic flooding,” according to the National Weather Service.

The city about 90 miles east of Phoenix was under a flash flood emergency with heavy rains expected over the next couple of hours.

NWS said homes in nearby Russell Gulch were damaged by flooding.

US 60 remains CLOSED in Globe due to flooding. Please use state routes 177 and 77 as alternate routes.

Check your route before heading out with the AZ 511 & ADOT Alerts apps: https://t.co/MxTvyyEdpM#aztraffic #azwx pic.twitter.com/f9C1J051uj

— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) August 18, 2021

Burn scars from multiple fires in the area earlier in the summer have assisted in leading to flooding conditions.

Several parts of Arizona have experienced heavy flooding recently due to monsoon storms.

U.S. 60 between nearby Superior and Miami was shut down last week after rains left behind standing water, rocks and debris in the roadway.

Two people were found dead Sunday due to flooding in Gila Bend, following a monsoon that drenched south-central Arizona.

Gila Bend Mayor Chris Riggs declared a state of emergency for the town of 2,000 people due to the flooding.

Follow @DannyShapiro13