Water levels rose about three feet from the road, and the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office deployed officers to deter crossers and provide assistance if needed. While most remained on the muddy bank, some travelers braved the reckless crossing. Not everyone who has tried has been successful.

A resident named Dobbs was stranded mid-river as water flooded the engine of his SUV, stalling its movement when attempting to cross. Luckily, Dobbs was able to climb safely onto the car, but a hoisted large pickup and a friend in his truck backed into the floodwaters, secured the tow ropes, and pulled Dobbs across the river. succeeded in pulling to

Those less prone to risking walkways have found another way around the flood.

For Forestdale Farms’ Rylan Morton-Starner, a raging Rio had to make a detour to get his kids to school. He explained that he had “hiked” with the children to roads outside the flood route where he had arranged transportation with the children’s grandparents.

“It’s certainly difficult,” Morton-Starner said. “Not only do you have to find your way on foot, you also need a car to get in and out on both sides.”

But getting children to school wasn’t Morton-Sterner’s only concern. For the past two days, Forestdale Farms has watched in horror as flood waters rise. Because travel obstacles could delay the scheduled delivery of microgreens to St. He and Mary’s Food Bank.

“We only have a few days to harvest microgreens,” says Morton-Starner. “So if the river doesn’t go down this week, we’ll have to find a way to get them to food banks.”

Wednesday was still high, but water levels appeared to be dropping, said James Rinaldi, a resident whose home near the intersection of Herold Ranch Road gives him a “front row seat.” rice field. He explained that flooding on roads was relatively common during his 17 years where he lived, but flooding appears to be increasing in “severity and frequency.” In his estimation, climate change, fire damage, and upstream development.

On Wednesday, the water was reaching the concrete wall, which is usually much higher than the embankment.

“In 17 years, I have never seen water reach a wall,” Rinaldi said. “This is a new level.”

Rinaldi noted that Herold Ranch Road is regularly maintained by Coconino County, but long-term improvements to allow crossings during floods have been needed by other projects, particularly the JW Powell Expansion Project. I am concerned that preferential treatment may stall.

“They hate it,” he said of residents’ feelings about being stranded in a flood. “But this is really the only access those people have. For hundreds of people, this is the only way to get in and out.”

Floods have severely affected various communities elsewhere in Coconino County. Sedona’s evacuated areas were able to get back to “set” Wednesday after the floodwaters receded, according to Tim Carter County Assistant Director of Emergency Management. Despite local reports of water crossing the border and entering the garage, “Fortunately, to our knowledge, there was no widespread impact inside the home,” Carter said. increase.

In total, the National Weather Service (NWS) measurements brought approximately 2 to 3 inches of rain and varying amounts of snow ranging from about 2 to 10 inches to the Flagstaff area over the past 48 hours. is shown. According to NWS meteorologist Evan LaGuardia, accelerated snowmelt is certainly contributing to the flooding of rivers in the region, but that’s not the whole story.

“The soil is very saturated,” said LaGuardia. “The ground can’t stand it anymore, so anything that falls flies away almost immediately.”

Existing snow cover also increased across Arizona on Wednesday, according to Arizona SNOTEL data. Morning measurements showed that the Verde River Basin was near 300% of the median peak snow cover, and the San Francisco Peak was over 200% of the median peak snow cover. The measurements are even more extreme when measured as a percentage of the median value on March 22nd. So the Verde Basin has 1,463% of the median snow cover, and the San Francisco Peak has 224% of the median.

“Definitely this was a very significant storm,” LaGuardia said. “Three inches of liquid, and last week we had another storm on top of this one. So it’s definitely been a very active period across the Flagstaff area.”

LaGuardia added that forecasts are in effect for the rest of the week, with more precipitation likely through April 1.

“But as for another storm like this, it seems unlikely at this point,” he said.