A murky and threatening torrent of water that was caught last week in Arizona is a warning of increased risk after the wildfires earlier this year, according to authorities.
Pima County officials said on Facebook on Thursday that the Bighorn fire earlier this year left an increased risk of flash flooding in the area.
“Even light rain can produce devastating flash floods and mudflows, often with little warning,” county officials said.
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Authorities shared a video taken Wednesday along a channel in the northern part of the country after a “minor storm.”
A debris flow can be seen in Pima County, Arizona on July 15, 2020.
(Pima County via Storyful)
In the video, the floodwater can be seen carrying charred debris along the canal.
“Forest fires like the Bighorn Fire leave the soil charred, sterile, and unable to absorb water,” authorities said.
Andy Dinauer, deputy director of the Pima County Regional Flood Control District, told KOLD News 13 that the flash flood last week was a reminder that such washes can occur even when it doesn’t rain directly on the head.
“Somebody downstream would have no idea what’s coming because it’s not raining where it is and the water is crossing the road,” he said.
County officials said that in addition to rainfall, flash floods and associated debris flows, they bring with them large amounts of burned material.
(Pima County via Storyful)
He also warned that if monsoon rains impact the area, the next flows that happen could be “significant”, and that night travelers should be especially vigilant.
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“If that crosses a highway at night, a person driving a vehicle and entering a wash intersection is not going to see that,” Dinauer told KOLD News 13. “It’s black, it’s like the oil that flows through the wash. , making it even harder to see at night. You really should stay away from those washes at night when it’s monsoon season. “
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County officials said that in addition to rainfall, flash floods and associated debris flows, they bring with them large amounts of burned material, such as ash, sand, silt, rocks and even trees.
While many may not associate Arizona with flooding, authorities said a 2017 analysis determined that Pima County was the eighth deadliest county in the nation for flood-related deaths in the past 20 years.
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“Due to the topography and proximity to mountainous areas in Pima County, there is sometimes little or no warning of impending flash floods or debris flows,” county officials state in a fact sheet. “In the case of moderate to heavy rains, it is best to take the necessary emergency measures to protect your life and property.”
