Flash flood watch is issued for the weekend

Published/Last Modified on Saturday, Jul 26, 2008 - 05:38:14 am MST

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Herald/Review report

SIERRA VISTA — Cochise County is under a flash flood watch through Sunday as the remnants of Hurricane Dolly move into the area.

The watch went into effect at 11 p.m. MST on Friday and will last through Sunday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

The area got its first taste of the Dolly-fed monsoon on Friday afternoon when thunderstorms came into the area and brought heavy rain into southwest and west central Cochise County.

The rainfall flooded the intersection of Moson and Ramsey roads, as well as Campobello Avenue, in the Hereford area, said Carol Capas, a spokeswoman for the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office.

In other areas, the rainfall was minimal. At Libby Army Airfield on Fort Huachuca, 0.07 of an inch was measured between 11:55 a.m. and 4:55 p.m. At the Bisbee Douglas International Airport, only a trace of rain fell during that same time period.

More rain was forecast for Friday night, and heavy rain is forecast for Saturday and Sunday, the weather service said.

“Much of Southeast Arizona is expected to receive amounts between a half of an inch to 1 1/2 inches, with localized amounts of 2 to 5 inches by Sunday evening,” the weather service said in a hazardous weather outlook on Friday evening.

That is what is expected to create the flash flood conditions. The watch is issued when “conditions are favorable for widespread flash flooding to develop, but has not yet occurred,” according to the weather service.

The weather service reminded drivers not drive their vehicles into areas where the water covers the roadway.

The U.S. Forest Service also issued a warning Friday to make sure people used caution when in the Coronado National Forest, which includes areas of Cochise County. Rains have damaged some trails and roads, the agency said.

“As a safety precaution at any time of the year when visiting public lands to recreate, visitors are encouraged to check weather conditions, forecasts and warnings for their destination and surrounding areas,” the Forest Service said.

Hurricane Dolly was a Category 2 storm that hit the eastern Texas and Mexico coasts Wednesday. In eastern Hidalgo County, as much as 12 inches of rain fell in six hours, according to The Associated Press.

WHERE TO CALL

To check local conditions on Coronado National Forest property, call the following ranger district offices depending on the area you’re headed to:

• Coronado National Forest supervisor’s office: (520) 388-8300

• Sierra Vista Ranger District:

378-0311

• Douglas Ranger District: 364-6800

• Nogales Ranger District:

(520) 281-2296

• Safford Ranger District:

(928) 428-4150

• Santa Catalina Ranger District: (520) 749-8700

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To Cam wrote on Jul 27, 2008 11:00 AM:

" What were you putting in your Kool Aid, when you came up with the idea that most moving here are from CA? "

To Cam wrote on Jul 27, 2008 7:59 AM:

" Actually, this is an arid grassland climate. The Sierra Vista area gets too much annual rain to qualify as a desert climate. I agree with the rest of your post. "

desert resident wrote on Jul 27, 2008 7:51 AM:

" To "cam": Just to let you know, there ARE some of us from Calif. that are compatable with the desert lifestyle out here in AZ. And, FYI, my husband and I did NOT build a home out here to ruin the San Pedro! We purchased an existing mobile home in Whetstone and we too believe in protecting and preserving the San Pedro and other desert life out here. Maybe not everyone appreciates the desert out here, but we DO. "

to cam wrote on Jul 26, 2008 11:52 PM:

" Guess what cam... YOU are living in what USED to be the dessert! But its ok if you live here, just not the ones out by the river? Whatever! "

cam wrote on Jul 26, 2008 7:50 PM:

" THe amount of rainfall won't affect the San Pedro as much as if all those non Arizonans from CA quit building homes and moving here, bringing their incompatable life style with them. Getting the environmentalists to quit complaining isn't the point... stop killing our way of life here and tearing up the desert. It is a desert after all. "

herefprd wrote on Jul 26, 2008 8:54 AM:

" How much rain have we had? And is it enough to keep the San Pedro activist off our back for a while? "