Heavy rain hit Window Rock in northern Arizona, bringing more than two inches of rain in an hour Tuesday afternoon.
According to National Weather Service meteorologist Benjamin Peterson, the first rains in the area started around 4:15 p.m., but more heavy rain fell about 30 minutes later.
Shortly thereafter, 2.9 inches of rainfall was recorded at Window Rock Airport, most of it within the 30-minute window, Peterson said. Window Rock is the capital of the Navajo Nation.
“Probably the most rainfall in a single day at Window Rock this monsoon season. So far I can’t recall any rain that comes close,” he said.
Rainfall caused significant flooding in and around Window Rock, including several intersections along Highway 264.
Flash flood warnings are in effect until 9:15 p.m. Tuesday for parts of Apache County and 9:45 p.m. for parts of Navajo County, according to a tweet from the Bureau of Meteorology.
Photos posted online from cameras operated by the Arizona Department of Transportation showed a car trying to navigate a road covered in brown floodwaters.
Throughout this monsoon season, most of the Navajo Nation’s flash floods are further west, mostly concentrated in central Navajo and Midwestern Apache counties, Peterson said.
“Generally, because of the high elevation of Window Rock, we don’t have the problems of lower elevation rock and clay formations that occur on the rest of the reservation,” he said.
Contact reporter Lacey Latch in Northern Arizona. llatch@gannett.com or on social media @laceylatchNorthern Arizona coverage on azcentral.com and the Republic of Arizona is funded by a grant from the non-profit Report for America and the Vitalyst Health Foundation Associated with the Republic of Arizona.
