Flood Watch: Gila County, AZ, as Tropical Storm Rachel moves in (through 5 a.m. PT Monday)

The National Weather Service office in Flagstaff, AZ has a Flood Watch for parts of Gila County until 5 a.m. PT Monday, Oct. 12. NWS says it covers western Coconino, northern Gila, far southern Navajo, and Yavapai counties. Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible. Flash flooding will be possible in creeks, normally dry washes, swimming holes, and over recently burned areas.

At 11 a.m. PT Saturday, Oct. 10, the National Hurricane Center (NHC Intermediate Advisory 54A) placed Tropical Storm Rachel about 490 miles south-southwest of San Diego, California, moving northeast at 22 mph with top sustained winds near 60 mph. A northeastward to north-northeastward motion with a further increase in forward speed is expected through Sunday. On the forecast track, the center of Rachel is expected to approach northern Baja California today and move onshore tonight.

What to do: Never drive or walk into water on a road; turn around, don't drown. Washes, dips and low-water crossings can flood in minutes. If you live below a recent burn scar or a steep slope, be ready to leave quickly if heavy rain starts.

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Follow Rachel advisory by advisory, with every county watch and warning: https://noticenearby.com/papers/tropical-storm-rachel-2026

Sources: NWS Flagstaff AZ Flood Watch via api.weather.gov (https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.bd66ef650bca91709db925ca53cb5389166437a2.001.1); NOAA National Hurricane Center (https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIATCPEP3.shtml). Notice Nearby wrote this brief in its own words. More Gila County notices: https://noticenearby.com/az/gila