Heavy rain expected as flood watches cover Navajo Nation communities
WINDOW ROCK
A strong Pacific storm is expected to bring heavy rain to the Navajo Nation through Thursday, with National Weather Service forecasters warning of possible flash flooding in washes, creeks and low-water crossings.
Forecasters in Flagstaff issued a flood watch for northern and central Arizona from 6 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, through midnight Thursday night, Mountain Daylight Time. The storm is drawing tropical and subtropical moisture into the region, bringing repeated rounds of showers and thunderstorms.
“For Ganado area or within my district area, we don’t have any sandbags points identified,” Council Delegate Vince James, who represents Jeddito, Cornfields, Ganado, Kinlichee and Steamboat, said Tuesday.
James said he understands sandbags are being prepared in Chinle, Shiprock and other communities near riverbanks and known flood zones.
“Majority of the time, people usually contact the chapter or contact myself within my district region,” he said.
James asked families to follow previously circulated flood and severe-weather procedures, avoid flooded roads and check on one another. Residents short on winter supplies can contact their chapters for help, he said.
In their Wednesday morning forecast, Flagstaff meteorologists reported an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms, level 3 of 5, centered along the Mogollon Rim. Stronger storms in that area could produce hail exceeding 2 inches, damaging winds and possible tornadoes.
Forecasters expect the severe-weather threat to peak late Wednesday afternoon and evening, then shift east toward the eastern Mogollon Rim and White Mountains on Thursday.
In northern Arizona, forecasters expect rain to diminish from west to east Thursday night, with drier conditions Friday and lingering shower chances into the weekend.
Forecasters in Albuquerque also issued a flood watch covering portions of the Navajo Nation in New Mexico from noon Wednesday through late Thursday night. They expect three-quarters of an inch to 1 1/2 inches of rain in most areas covered by the watch, with isolated totals up to 3 inches.
“I think it all comes back down to our prayers, our songs, and of different things that we did throughout the summer requesting for rain,” James said. “So again, it’s another way of looking at it as being blessed as we need a lot of these rain coming through. But, you know, it all depends on each individual, each family.”
After an earlier round of rain and mud, James said, his staff delivered food boxes and checked on families living four to five miles from the highway. They also photographed washes that usually flood.
Staff reported washes needing major repairs to the emergency operations office and notified local entities with heavy equipment, he said.
NOAA forecasters favor above-normal precipitation in the Southwest from December through February in their winter outlook released Oct. 15.
James said legislation to fund emergency equipment and supplies is being drafted, though he did not know which delegate would introduce it. He has offered to co-sponsor it and is working with emergency management officials on the request.
“There’s quite a bit of funding that is needed to move forward,” he said.
Chapters are only now approving their carryover budgets and general allocations, James said. Readiness varies by chapter, depending on roads, terrain and soil.
Some chapters have agreed to increase their emergency funding, James said.
Highway 264,
I-40, WB @ Winslow