Key facts
- Alert
- Flash Flood Warning (severe)
- Issued by
- National Weather Service, Flagstaff AZ
- Areas
- Apache, AZ
- Places
- Chinle, Canyon De Chelly National Monument, Mummy Cave Overlook
- In effect
- until 8:15 AM MST, Oct 22, 2026
- Damage threat
- Considerable
What the National Weather Service says
“Flash flooding is already occurring.”
NWS Flagstaff AZ, Flash Flood Warning, 2:32 AM MST Oct 22, 2026 · official alert
“Life threatening flash flooding.”
NWS Flagstaff AZ, Flash Flood Warning, 2:32 AM MST Oct 22, 2026 · official alert
“Stay away or be swept away! The banks of creeks and washes are unstable and unsafe during any flooding event.”
NWS Flagstaff AZ, Flash Flood Warning, 2:32 AM MST Oct 22, 2026 · official alert
What to do
Stay away from creeks and washes in the warned area, including Chinle Wash and Nazlini Wash. The National Weather Service says the banks are unstable and unsafe during any flooding event.
Be especially cautious at night. It is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding in the dark.
Move to higher ground if water is rising near you. Never drive around barricades or into flooded roads. Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, and 1 foot can sweep a vehicle away.
Follow updates from the National Weather Service in Flagstaff, since the warning may be changed or extended.
Context
The National Weather Service reported that at 1:00am the stage on Chinle Creek at Chinle was 4.1 feet. Flood stage is 4.0 feet. At 4.3 feet, flooding reaches homes in Chinle on the left bank downstream from the Highway 64 bridge.
FEMA records show 10 flood insurance claims in Apache County between 1979 and 2023. That count covers only insured properties, so it does not show all past flood damage. FEMA also lists flood-related disaster declarations for the county in September 2021 and March 2010.
Updates
- The flash flood warning is no longer in effect.
- The National Weather Service updated the flash flood warning; it remains in effect until 8:15 AM MST.
- NWS Flagstaff AZ issued the flash flood warning until 8:15 AM MST.
History here
Apache County: 10 flood insurance claims in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 1979, most recent 2023.
Apache County: recent federal disaster declarations
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Questions
- Is there a flash flood warning in Apache County, Arizona?
- Yes. The National Weather Service in Flagstaff issued a Flash Flood Warning for Apache County at 12:21 AM MST, in effect until 8:15 AM MST on October 22, 2026.
- Is flash flooding happening in Chinle right now?
- The National Weather Service says flash flooding is already occurring. A river gauge on Chinle Creek reported a rapid rise above flood stage, at 4.1 feet against a flood stage of 4.0 feet.
- Which places are affected by the Chinle flash flood warning?
- The warning names Chinle, Canyon De Chelly National Monument and Mummy Cave Overlook. It also lists several creeks and washes, including Chinle Wash, Coyote Wash and Nazlini Wash.
Sources
- NWS Flagstaff AZ: Flash Flood Warning, Oct 22, 2026 weather.gov
- FEMA OpenFEMA: NFIP claims and disaster declarations fema.gov
How this page is made. The Herebeat Hazard Desk builds event pages from official U.S. government data (National Weather Service, USGS, FEMA). The text is written with AI from that data; every number and quote is checked against the official source automatically before publishing, and the page is updated when the agency updates the event. The official source is always the reference. Spotted a mistake? info@herebeat.app. About the Hazard Desk.